Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of organized team sport on athletic identity for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Understanding the personal impact will inform practitioners on the benefits of participation after injury.
Primary Author and Speaker: Nicole Eustace
Additional Authors and Speakers: Gabrielle Petruccelli
This study examined how organized team sport affects Athletic Identity (AI) in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), exploring the resulting influence on well-being and life experience. Athletic Identity, defined by a person’s identification with being an athlete, has been shown in past research to foster positive life changes (Brewer et al., 1993; Tasiemski & Brewer, 2011). This study focused on how participation in team sport helps individuals with SCI form or strengthen AI, enhancing self-perception and personal value within a team context. Utilizing an exploratory, mixed-methods design, the research assessed psychosocial benefits of team sports and AI’s role in continued engagement. Adaptive sport organizations distributed recruitment flyers, with participants selected via convenience sampling. Eligible participants experienced SCI at any spinal level, were over 18, and had some team sport involvement; those with comorbid traumatic brain injuries were excluded. After consenting, participants completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and took part in structured online interviews. Qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, while AIMS data was examined descriptively. Findings indicated that participation in team sports promotes social connectivity with others facing similar disabilities, deepens dedication to athletic pursuits, and helps individuals redefine their identities as athletes. Team-based sports contribute to reshape self-concept after SCI, providing a community that supports this personal transformation. These insights underline the potential of adaptive team sports to aid identity reconstruction and well-being for people with SCI.
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