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Description

Adolescent student-athletes experience unique demands as they navigate the expectations of competitive sport alongside academic, social, and developmental responsibilities. These demands may influence mental health, executive functioning, occupational balance, and the development of occupational identity. The purpose of this Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) capstone project was to explore the development of occupational identity through the lived experience of growing up as a competitive athlete and to examine how participation in sport influenced mental health, self-regulation, executive functioning, and engagement in meaningful occupations. An autoethnographic approach was used to reflect on my personal experiences while completing a capstone experience at a community-based nonprofit training center serving adolescent athletes. Data were gathered through reflective journaling, retrospective reflection, observation, open dialogue, and occupationally focused activities addressing time use, occupational roles, interests, executive functioning, and self-regulation. Experiences were organized and analyzed thematically using the occupational science framework of Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of how competitive sport can shape occupational identity and influence adolescents’ ability to recognize and communicate their needs, establish healthy boundaries, regulate emotions, and engage in occupations beyond athletic performance. Findings are expected to highlight opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners to support adolescent student-athletes through trauma-informed, occupation-centered approaches that promote self-advocacy, autonomy, occupational balance, and sustainable participation in sport and other meaningful life occupations.

Publication Date

Summer 2026

Publisher

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Adolescents, student-athletes, occupational identity, occupational balance, autoethnography, Occupations

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent, Mental Health, Motivation, Occupational Therapy, Retrospective Studies, Athletic Performance, Self-Control, Emotions, Students, Athletes

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Comments

Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium, held at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Beyond the Athlete: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Occupational Identity

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