Stress-Related Growth in Elite Sport Performers: Qualitative Differentiators in Psychosocial Mechanisms

The purpose of this study was to explore growth following the experience stressors and compare experiences elite athletes who exhibit higher lower levels growth. Six (five female one male) participated in a semi-structured interview. Three reported experiencing levels, three Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that understanding self, development athletic identity, social support are key psychological mechanisms, which differentiate Athletes showed greater association with meaningful behavioral actions, ultimately reflecting modification previously held beliefs into new worldview. reflected an attempt maintain already existing worldview, thus hindering findings show mechanisms accumulatively promote provide foundation for subsequent intervention studies.