The Impact of Normative vs. Non-normative Athletic Career Retirement on Student-athlete Well-being and Transition

Kaya Mahy ’25

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bagley

What is the broader impact of your summer research? That is, why should the world care about your work?

My summer research focused on the effects of athletic retirement on student-athletes post-graduation and their ability to transition to life without their sport. Mental health for student-athletes is often something overlooked and has only become a conversation recently. It is important to consider the hardships that student-athletes not only graduate from college but also when they lose the sport they have always known. As a student-athlete, I have seen past teammates struggle with losing a part of who they are when their athletic career ends, whether that be in a normative or non-normative way. I believe that more guidance should be given to student-athletes to prepare them for the transition without the sport they have been playing for most of their lives and avoid feelings of identity loss.

What has summer research taught you about yourself and the field that you researched and/or studied?

This summer taught me to say yes more and take on challenges. I was hesitant about committing to doing summer research and the difficulty of it, but I am grateful for the experience and for forcing myself out of my comfort zone. I learned a lot about how to communicate effectively with others, especially when conducting interviews. I learned how to better ask/clarify questions and how to interpret responses into qualitative data.

What advice would you give to students considering a future research opportunity similar to the one you participated in?

I would advise that they take on the challenge and make sure to pick a topic that they are passionate/interested in. It can be a lot of work, but when it is something interesting to you it makes the work feel much more worthwhile.