Key result
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.
Supports mental health screening for retiring elite athletes; leaves open optimal interventions and risk stratification.
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).
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Wylleman et al. (2014) 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.
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