Retirement Difficulties in Spanish Athletes: The Importance of the Career Path

Based on the conceptual model of adaptation to retirement among athletes (Taylor & Ogilvie, 1994), the present study aimed to (a) evaluate if perceived difficulties during the retirement transition varied according to the voluntariness of the decision, planning of a postsport career life, satisfaction with the sport achievements, and career path, and (b) analyze if these perceived difficulties varied according to the type of the student-athlete's dual-career trajectory. In total, 477 elite athletes completed the questionnaire. Multivariate multinomial logistic models were applied to analyze the data. Voluntariness was significantly associated with difficulties related to professional career out of sport, health, and finances. Planning one's retirement was associated with difficulties in areas such as studies, family, and leisure, whereas satisfaction with sport achievements was associated with difficulties in areas such as social networking, leisure, and finance. The results supported our hypothesis that student-athletes who combined sport and education and gave them the same degree of priority (parallel trajectory) would experience fewer difficulties than athletes who prioritize sport over education (convergent trajectory). The factors proposed by Taylor and Ogilvie's model were associated with the perceived difficulties in different areas when keeping the other factors in control. Because only a parallel dual-career trajectory seems to protect the athlete from severe difficulties in transitioning out of sport, future research should identify means for assisting student-athletes to maintain their educational commitment.