Athletic Identity in Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Bianca R. Edison, Melissa A. Christino and Katherine H. Rizzone
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Bianca R. Edison: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
Melissa A. Christino: Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Katherine H. Rizzone: Orthopaedics and Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Athletic identity (AI), the degree of personal connection to sport, is well-described in adult research; however, this social trait has been less studied in younger age groups. This systematic review describes epidemiological characteristics of AI in youth athletes. PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo were searched to identify AI studies involving quantitative athlete identity outcomes and cohorts 22 years and younger. The search strategy was developed for each database using the Boolean method. PRISMA guidelines and the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) were utilized. Ten out of ninety-one studies met inclusion criteria. AI scores differed by race/ethnicity. Two studies found increased AI during adolescence compared to later in ones’ training. Mental health-focused studies revealed higher AI levels protect against burnout, but in injured athletes, increased depression risk. Transitioning to a higher level of play during adolescence can correlate with stronger senses of AI. Further research should explore the concept of athletic identity saliency as one moves through an athletic career or training program and how thoughts of perceived success, professional progression, recruitment prospect or injury affect levels of athletic identity.

Keywords: athlete identity; adolescent athlete; athlete identity measurement scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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