D4 Published development or research report or study
Lopettaneiden ammattijääkiekkoilijoiden elämäntyytyväisyys ja valmistautuminen uran jälkeiseen elämään Suomessa [Life satisfaction of former elite ice-hockey players and their readiness for post-career life in Finland]
Authors: Pasi Roslund, Raymond Bertram, Niilo Konttinen
Publisher: Kilpa- ja huippu-urheilun tutkimuskeskus KIHU
Publishing place: Jyväskylä
Publication year: 2018
Series title: Kihun julkaisusarja
Number in series: 59
ISBN: 978-952-5676-94-5
eISBN: 978-952-5676-94-5
Web address : https://www.urheilututkimukset.fi/media/urtu/julkaisut/2018_ros_lopettanei_sel54_15150.pdf
Abstract
The termination of a sports career of elite sporters happens at a relatively young age. For this reason,
elite sporters have to commence an alternative career after their sports career, a situation not every
sporter is prepared for. The purpose of this study was to investigate which sport-related factors influence
former Finnish elite ice-hockey players’ post-career life satisfaction as well as the factors that determine
their preparedness for career termination. The data set included 159 former Finnish professional ice
hockey players who responded to an extensive web questionnaire. The results showed that post career
life satisfaction was influenced by players’ subjective evaluation of athletic achievements, readiness for
career termination and education level. More specifically, it was found that more achievements, better
preparedness for post-career life, and higher level of education were related to greater life satisfaction.
In turn, preparedness for post-career life was related to voluntariness of the retirement decision, institutional
support and education level (but not e.g. athletic identity) with more voluntary retirement
decisions, more institutional support (from the club and the ice hockey association) and higher level
of education being related to higher degree of preparedness for post-career life. By responding to a
number of open questions, the former ice hockey players suggested possible improvements to increase
preparedness for post-career life. Economical guidance, mentor systems, and earlier alerting of education
possibilities were offered as solutions to attenuate and/or avoid possible negative consequences of
career termination in the future.
The termination of a sports career of elite sporters happens at a relatively young age. For this reason,
elite sporters have to commence an alternative career after their sports career, a situation not every
sporter is prepared for. The purpose of this study was to investigate which sport-related factors influence
former Finnish elite ice-hockey players’ post-career life satisfaction as well as the factors that determine
their preparedness for career termination. The data set included 159 former Finnish professional ice
hockey players who responded to an extensive web questionnaire. The results showed that post career
life satisfaction was influenced by players’ subjective evaluation of athletic achievements, readiness for
career termination and education level. More specifically, it was found that more achievements, better
preparedness for post-career life, and higher level of education were related to greater life satisfaction.
In turn, preparedness for post-career life was related to voluntariness of the retirement decision, institutional
support and education level (but not e.g. athletic identity) with more voluntary retirement
decisions, more institutional support (from the club and the ice hockey association) and higher level
of education being related to higher degree of preparedness for post-career life. By responding to a
number of open questions, the former ice hockey players suggested possible improvements to increase
preparedness for post-career life. Economical guidance, mentor systems, and earlier alerting of education
possibilities were offered as solutions to attenuate and/or avoid possible negative consequences of
career termination in the future.
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