The Relationships Among Normative Male Alexithymia, Athletic Identity and Psychological Wellbeing in Active and Retired Professional Hockey Players

• Main Author: Aston, Peter R
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2018
• Subjects: Clinical psychology
• ISBN: 9781392581032; 1392581036

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among normative male alexithymia, athletic identity, and psychological wellbeing in active and retired professional hockey players. An online survey was sent to approximately 1200 active players and 4000 retired players using emails within the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) database. Of the 723 total participants who clicked on the survey link, 56% (N=407) completed the survey. Our data showed that 21% of retired professional hockey players have moderate to very severe levels of self-reported depression, which was slightly more than double the rate of active players (10.2%). For both active and retired players, normative male alexithymia was associated with higher self-reported depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia, and lower self-reported satisfaction with life. Normative male alexithymia was also associated with participants identifying more exclusively with the athlete role (a.k.a., athletic identity exclusivity). In active players, anticipated number years until athletic retirement was associated with higher athletic identity exclusivity, indicating that as players perceive themselves to be approaching athletic retirement, they identify less exclusively with their role as an athlete. In retired players, higher athletic identity exclusivity was associated with greater severity of self-reported depressive symptoms. Overall, these findings indicate that retired professional hockey players may be an at-risk population for clinical depression. Therapeutic interventions that increase the ease with which active and retired professional hockey players identify and communicate their emotions may assist the broadening of their identity beyond their role as an athlete, and thereby buffer them against depression during and after their transition to athletic retirement.