Archived

This content is available here for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping.

Date Available

11-7-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Community & Leadership Development

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Community and Leadership Development

Faculty

Rebekah B. Epps

Faculty

Robert Harrison

Abstract

This study explores how student-athletes with a high athletic identity are affected as they transition out of sport, with attention on the financial aspects due to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Tuckman’s four stages of group development and the High Athletic Identity Theory are used to help explain the data results. 119 former and current collegiate student-athletes completed a survey based on three areas: mental health, transferable skills, and financial preparedness. Findings revealed student-athletes whose sense of self-worth was heavily tied to their athletic role reported greater difficulty adjusting to post sport life, which is consistent with identity foreclose shown in existing literature. While participants acknowledged the value of the transferable skills developed while in athletics many struggled to apply those skills after their athletic career ended. Financial preparedness was shown as critical gap between Pre-NIL and NIL era athletes. The study concludes athletic departments and supporting staff, friends, and family must take more of an intentional role in preparing student-athletes for life after sports, by promoting ways to help develop an identity away from sports before the transition is forced on them.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.247

Archival?

Archival

Download

Available for download on Saturday, November 07, 2026

Contact Author

Share

COinS