The Role of Closure, Athletic Identity, and Social Support on Student-Athletes’ Mental Health During Their Socialization Out of Sports

One of the most difficult transitions in all of sports occurs when elite athletes conclude their athletic careers—a process known as socialization out of sport (SOS). This study examined survey data from 125 former Division I student-athletes who are in the first year of their SOS, to gain predictive and comparative insight into the importance of closure, athletic identity, and received support on former student-athletes’ life satisfaction and mental health. Results indicate that closure is the most salient characteristic of SOS for determining well-being outcomes but that athletic identity has an indirect effect through its influence on student-athletes’ sense of closure. Moreover, personal support from athletic staff was associated with better mental health outcomes, whereas task support served as a negative predictor of mental health outcomes. The implications of these findings promote the integration of communicative resources into the SOS process and forward pathways for scholars and practitioners to address student-athlete well-being.