Sports broadcaster and journalist Rikki Swannell investigates a new study that aims to understand what 'wellbeing' means for high-performance athletes in New Zealand.
🕒 4 min read
From nutrition and diet, supplement support and performance medicine and injury rehab and prevention to mental and physical health, there's a wide variety of services and support available to high-performance athletes all sitting under the broad umbrella of 'wellbeing'.
Now, for the first time, a holistic study is being conducted into the wellbeing of New Zealand athletes at every stage of their career, from pre-high performance to retirement, in an attempt to work out what wellbeing means and looks like to each individual.
With the somewhat daunting title 'Athletes' Lived Experiences of Wellbeing on the High Performance Pathway in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Accounted by the athletes, their coaches and chosen supports', the research is well underway under the direction of University of Canterbury PhD candidate Lindsay Hill, in conjunction with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ).
Here, Lindsay tells us more.
What is the project about?
The project is about understanding wellbeing end-to-end on the high-performance pathway, from multiple perspectives – the athletes, their coaches, and their chosen support personnel (either personal or professional).
I am looking to understand how athletes conceptualise wellbeing, learning what's important to them regarding their wellbeing, along with exploring whether athletes, their coaches and supports think there are unique stages to athlete wellbeing e.g., from pre-high performance, early career, mid-career, late career, and into retirement.
I am also seeking to understand the support personnel athletes choose to lean on for their wellbeing support, and conversely how those personnel view their role in supporting athlete wellbeing, and finally what factors they all view as pivotal in playing a role in athlete wellbeing.
What makes it unique?
This project is unique in numerous ways. Firstly, although there is research on career stages for athletes it has not been studied in relation to wellbeing needs or changes throughout the career span; there is published work on the specific stages of athletes' careers but the end-to-end approach is novel.
Further, there is research on relationships, like the importance of the coach-athlete relationship or parent-athlete relationship, but far less work that considers multiple perspectives and multiple stages at once.
And finally using a qualitative survey and qualitative interviews is also unique – more of the wellbeing research has tried to measure, or quantify wellbeing, instead of hearing about the lived experiences of wellbeing within high-performance sport.
Why is this area worthwhile exploring?
Because every athlete matters. Understanding wellbeing from multiple perspectives in high performance sport is of value in and of itself, but also for safeguarding and protecting athletes, promoting wellbeing practices, and potentially enhancing performance.
What is meant by 'wellbeing'?
There are so many definitions of wellbeing out there that I have deliberately refrained from choosing one because I want to hear directly from the athletes – to understand what aspects of athlete wellbeing are most important to them rather than make any assumptions about it.
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The project is in two parts, so what is the research process?
Part one is an online survey for current athletes and those who retired post the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Part two is interviews with the athlete, their coach, and their chosen support personnel. Personal supports could be their parent, partner, best friend or, if they choose their professional support, it could be their physiotherapist, nutritionist, performance life coach, etc.
The athletes nominate their coach, and one of their supports and the interviews will be conducted separately, with the results done in such a way to keep/preserve anonymity.
It's incredibly important to me that those being interviewed feel like they can be as candid and honest as possible about their experiences.
Tell us a little about your background and why you wanted to undertake this research?
I have a mixed bag background! I am a former competitive swimmer and competition lifeguard and spent seven years coaching competitive swimming before moving into the mental health and addictions space, and then into family school wellness as a counsellor and educator.
I have a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology, a master's in organisational psychology, where I studied personal responsibility in athletes for my dissertation, and I also have a master's in public health where I studied youth empowerment, and I spent a year overseas in Tanzania working with Congolese refugees in sport for development.
So, while it's a mixed bag, somehow it all knits together quite well, I think!
How will the research able to inform the work of HPSNZ in the future?
At this point it's hard to predict the outcomes, but it's possible that the information from the research could shape the types of support offered, or timing of support to correspond with career stage, or further validate or extend the already robust services offered for HPSNZ supported athletes.
The quality of the outcomes depends a lot on the input – I'm still recruiting for interviews and some athletes have been amazing ambassadors for the project. It is a qualitative survey and so, it takes some time and thought, and I certainly know that a lot of athletes are short on time.
What do you personally hope to get out of it?
A worthwhile piece of research that I can feel proud of. I am indebted to the athletes, their coaches, and their supports, 100%. Without their voice, none of this would be possible. I'm excited to be gifted their time and hear their stories. We have so many talented athletes in New Zealand!