Student Athletes Taking the Challenge

RESEARCH FINDINGS . . .

Evidence indicates that athletes with the highest levels of athletic identity almost always have lowest levels of Career Maturity, lacking the level of maturity and readiness needed to make appropriate decisions. (Baille&Danish, 1992;Etzel, Ferrante, & Pinkney, 1991)

This type of identity hinders progress in life once an athlete in unable to advance any further in their sport (Murphy, Petitpas & Brewer, 1996; Baille&Danish 1992)

Findings suggest that failure to explore alternative roles and identifying strongly and exclusively with the athletic role are associated with delayed career development in intercollegiate student athletes, and that male varsity student-athletes in revenue producing sports may be especially at risk for impaired acquisition of career decision making skills. (Murphy, Petitpas and Brewer, '96)

Studies show that Blocking emotional thoughts diminishes thinking abilities. Concealing your feelings requires mental resources that reduces your ability to remember, communicate and reason. "Typically, people conceal feelings to foster the illusion that they are cool, calm and collected", writes psychologist Jane Richards of the University of Texas at Austin. "There is mounting evidence that these emotion- regulatory efforts may have unintended cognitive consequences".