A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Philosophical Underpinning of Athlete Lifestyle Support : An Existential-Humanistic Perspective (2022)

Devaney, D. J., Nesti, M. S., Ronkainen, N. J., Littlewood, M. A., & Richardson, D. (2022). The Philosophical Underpinning of Athlete Lifestyle Support : An Existential-Humanistic Perspective. Sport Psychologist, 36(1), 29-39. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2020-0131

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Devaney, Darren J.; Nesti, Mark Stephen; Ronkainen, Noora J.; Littlewood, Martin A.; Richardson, David

Journal or series: Sport Psychologist

ISSN: 0888-4781

eISSN: 1543-2793

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 36

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 29-39

Publisher: Human Kinetics

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2020-0131

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: Channel is not openly available

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82316

Abstract

This study aims to highlight how an existential-humanistic perspective can inform athlete support and in doing so, emphasize the importance of explicating the philosophical underpinnings of athlete lifestyle support. Drawing on applied experience with elite youth cricketers over a 12-month period, ethnographic data were collected through the observation, maintenance of case notes, and a practitioner reflective diary. Based on thematic analysis, we created three nonfictional vignettes that we use to illustrate how existential-humanistic theorizing can inform lifestyle support. We discuss the implications of this professional philosophy in terms of considerations for performance and talent development programs, and how holistic support for athletes is positioned. We also discuss implications for athlete lifestyle and performance psychology practitioners, with regard to training, underpinning theoretical grounding of support and the strategic positioning of their practitioner roles.

Keywords: athletes; professional sports career; sport psychology; existential psychology; practical philosophy; ethnography; autoethnography

Free keywords: sport psychology; applied; philosophy of practice; autoethnography

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1