Athletic retirement is associated with a wide range of psychological, interpersonal, social, and financial problems in approximately 13-20% of retired elite athletes.
A significant proportion of elite athletes face mental health challenges and emotional turmoil during their transition to retirement.
All elite athletes will inevitably face the end of their athletic career. While for some this may seem to be an almost ‘matter-of-fact’ rational process, for others this transition may bring about a period of emotional turmoil and self-doubts impacting the retiree’s mental health. In fact, on average, one retired elite athlete in six (13-20 per cent) (Wippert and Wippert, 2008; Wylleman et al., 1993) has been found to experience a wide range of psychological, interpersonal, social, and financial problems as well as a range of negative or even traumatic experiences (e.g., alcohol and substance abuse, acute depression, eating disorders, identity confusion, decreased self-confidence, attempted suicide) during as well as after athletic retirement (Alfermann, 1995; Grove et al., 1998; Lavallee et al., 2000).
Wylleman et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Mental health during athletic retirement. Athletic retirement is associated with a wide range of psychological, interpersonal, social, and financial problems in approximately 13-20% of retired elite athletes.