Structural-Functional Model of Social Support for Athletes Across the Stages of Long-Term Athletic Development: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis (1981–2026)

Background. Preserving athletes’ mental well-being and social functioning under conditions of intensified training demands has become a critical challenge in contemporary elite sport. Annual training loads at the highest levels of performance may reach 1,500 hours, increasing vulnerability to burnout, social isolation, and identity-related difficulties. In response to the global transformation of elite sport in the 2020s, there is a growing need for integrated athlete support systems grounded in established theoretical frameworks of long-term athlete preparation. Objectives. To develop a theoretically grounded structural-functional model of social support for athletes based on V. Platonov’s long-term athlete preparation framework using bibliometric and network analysis. Materials and Methods. Bibliometric metadata were retrieved from the Scopus database, yielding 550 scientific publications published between 1981 and March 2026. Science mapping was conducted using VOSviewer (version 1.6.20), applying keyword co-occurrence analysis and Louvain clustering. Following screening and normalization procedures, 134 keywords meeting the inclusion threshold (n ≥ 5) were included in the network analysis. Cluster structures were subsequently interpreted in relation to V. Platonov’s eight-stage model of long-term athlete preparation. Results. The analysis identified eight thematic clusters reflecting the major domains of athlete social support across the athletic life course. The network structure indicated a progression from early-stage family- and school-based support toward institutional support mechanisms associated with dual career development, mental health, health maintenance, and career transition. The integrated athlete domain demonstrated the highest network centrality (TLS = 1146), highlighting the central conceptual role of athlete-centered support within the identified knowledge structure. Recent publication trends suggest increasing scholarly attention to athlete well-being, dual career pathways, and mental health as key priorities in contemporary sport science. Conclusions. The proposed structural-functional model provides a conceptual framework for integrating psychosocial support into long-term athlete preparation systems. The findings suggest that social support should be considered a strategically important structural component of athlete development, with potential implications for burnout prevention, career sustainability, and post-sport reintegration. The model may serve as a practical reference for sport organizations and higher education institutions in designing stage-specific athlete support strategies.