Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41441422›Full record

ReviewSports (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Sustainable Career Transitions and Mental Health Support in Elite Sport: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Practices.

Francesca Di Rocco, Cristian Romagnoli, Simone Ciaccioni, Laura Capranica, Elvira Padua, Flavia Guidotti

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Francesca Di RoccoDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life, "San Raffaele" Open University of Rome, 00166 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0031-5291
Cristian RomagnoliDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life, "San Raffaele" Open University of Rome, 00166 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0904-634X
Simone CiaccioniDepartment of Education and Sport Sciences, Pegaso University, 80013 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9533-9178
Laura CapranicaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3073-7655
Elvira PaduaDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life, "San Raffaele" Open University of Rome, 00166 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5227-2567
Flavia GuidottiDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life, "San Raffaele" Open University of Rome, 00166 Rome, Italy.

Funding

European Commission 101184857- ERASMUS-SPORT-2024-SCP
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The present systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence and practices regarding sustainable career transitions in elite sport. Following PRISMA guidelines, an extensive literature search was conducted in SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, resulting in 117 manuscripts, published from January 2015 to May 2025, and meeting the defined inclusion criteria. The review focused on mental health, dual-career pathways, transition readiness, and identity-related issues among elite athletes, Olympians, and Paralympians. Methodologies included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs, with multisport and mixed-gender samples prevailing. The most commonly used instruments were semi-structured interviews and surveys. The main findings highlighted the centrality of mental health support, the role of dual-career planning, and the importance of proactive identity negotiation. Despite growing research interest, significant gaps persist in access to psychological support, structured transition planning, and dual-career strategies, with notable inconsistencies across countries and sports. The review emphasizes the necessity for integrated, multidimensional guidance, culturally sensitive psychological services, and flexible educational pathways to promote athlete well-being and sustainable post-sport careers. These insights are intended to inform the implementation of the ERASMUS+ funded PORTAL project, supporting evidence-based interventions and the development of resources such as an online platform and Real-Life Transition Officers to enhance the transition experiences of elite athletes.

Indexed as

athletic identitymental health supportretirement adaptationsustainable career transitionstransition planning

Identifiers

PMID41441422
PMCPMC12813639

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.