Actual and wished supports to promote a successful dual career according to Italian student-athletes’ point of view

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the actual and wished supports to promote a successful dual career for Italian student-athletes. Methods: An ad-hoc questionnaire (9 items) was administered to 711 academic Italian student-athletes (age=23±4 years). A binomial regression for categorical outcome was applied to discriminate subcategories for each item. Results: According to the items which could be considered as more related to the actual and wished supports to promote a successful dual career, student-athletes mostly answered that tutoring (≤24 years old, 95%, OR=3.55; team, 95%, OR=2.27; elite, 97%, OR=3.33; not sport science path, 93%-96%, OR range=3.45-7.69), e-learning (last year, 95%, OR=1.97), and extra-academic merits (team, 71%, OR=1.47; elite, 77%, OR=2.13) resulted not satisfactory supported by university, but highly whished by student-athletes. Also the flexibility in lessons frequency and exams sustainability resulted strongly considered, but perceived as limited (≤24 years old, 84%, OR=2.43; Medical and Humanistic, 87%, with respect to Sport Science path, OR=9.01). In addition, in terms of identity, female (68%, OR=2.22), >24 years old (68%, OR=2.22), sub-elite (68%, OR=2.22), not sport science (57%-65%, OR=2.48-2.03), and last year of attendance (62%, OR=3.45) participants showed to be more student-oriented, whereas elite (60%), sport science path (61%), and out of course (56%) student-athletes perceived their-self as mainly athletic-oriented. Conclusion: Italian student-athletes could be better supported by University in complying sport and academic requirements, especially by means of improvement of tutoring, e-learning, and a more flexible schedule, in line with the European Commission guidelines.