Exploration of Intercollegiate Student-Athletes’ Athletic Identity

Abstract

Student-athletes encounter experiences that can cause their identity process and self-concept to be disturbed. Even though athletic identities are strong among intercollegiate athletes, some encounter identity-threatening events that interrupt their identity process, negatively affecting their athletic identity. The present study adds to current research on the athletic identity of student-athletes by examining the athletic identity and self-esteem of student-athletes to determine if a redshirt season is a positive (identity-enhancing) or negative (identity-threatening) event. The intersectionality of age, race, gender, and ethnicity are examined to understand if multiple identities influence the experience of a redshirt season. Results reveal that a redshirt season does not influence athletic identity and self-esteem. However, redshirt athlete’s psychological symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression play a possible role in their college athletic career.