Authors

1 PhD Student in Sports Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Sports Management, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.

10.22044/shm.2026.16781.2791

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: Athletes, as social role models, are always in a complex context of interpersonal and social interactions. However, these interactions are not always positive and in some cases can lead to the formation of a phenomenon called "social attrition". The aim of this study was to identify the antecedents and consequences of social attrition among Iranian athletes.

Methodology: This is a qualitative study conducted with an inductive approach. The participants in the study included coaches, referees, professional athletes, club managers, sports and media experts. The participants were selected purposively and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 of them. The reliability of the interviews was confirmed using the test-retest reliability method. Data analysis was performed using the content analysis method of Brown and Clark (2006).

Findings: Based on qualitative data analysis, social factors, behavioral factors, individual factors, and economic factors were identified as antecedents, and internal exhaustion and functional decline were identified as consequences of social attrition.

Conclusion: The results showed that social attrition in athletes is a multidimensional and complex phenomenon that stems from the interaction of four main categories of social, behavioral, individual, and economic factors. These results indicate that social attrition is not simply an individual issue, but is rooted in the social, cultural, and economic context of Iranian professional sportsTherefore, managing and reducing social attrition requires an integrated and systematic approach. These results can help prevent and design effective interventions to improve the atmosphere, increase professional longevity, and athlete performance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. 1. Sarwar A, Irshad M, Zhong J, Sarwar S. Social undermining and psychological distress: Role of emotional exhaustion among nurses. Journal of Healthcare Leadership. 2020; 28(4):938–947. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13027.
  2. Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer; 1984.
  3. 3. Biggs A, Brough P, Drummond S. Lazarus and Folkman's psychological stress and coping theory. The handbook of stress and health: A guide to research and practice. Wiley Blackwell; 2017. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118993811.ch21.
  4. 4. Ryan RM, Deci EL. Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. New York: Guilford Press; 2017. https://doi.org/10.1521/978.14625/28806.
  5. 5. Greenberg J. Organizational justice: The dynamics of fairness in the workplace. 3. S. Zedeck ed. American Psychological Association: APA handbook of industrial and organizational psychology; 2011. p. 271–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/12171-008
  6. 6. Blumer H. Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Englewood Cliffs: NJ: Prentice-Hall; 1969.
  7. 7. Moore ZE, Marin K. Emotion regulation in sport and performance contexts. APA handbook of sport and exercise psychology: Sport psychology. Emotion regulation in sport and performance contexts. In M. H. Anshel, T. A. Petrie, & J. A. Steinfeldt (Eds.) ed: American Psychological Association. 2019. p. 245–57. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000123-013.
  8. 8. Zainuddin MSS, Mazalan NS, Kamaruzaman FM, Lian DKC, Pa WAMW, Nazarudin MN. The impact of social factors and environment on athlete motivation and performance in sports. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development. 2023;13(3):244–50. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v12-i3/18335.
  9. 9. Gorrell E. How social media is changing the game for athletes. Physorg. 2025.
  10. 10. Chareyre L, Chalabaev A, Isoard-Gautheur S. Performing under pressure: Role of others' presence in sport performance. FEPSAC Congress. 2024. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.11985.34401.
  11. 11. Martin C. Coaching dynamics: The impact of behavioral styles on collegiate athletes' performance, motivation, and relationships. Utah Journal of Communication. 2024;2(2):129-35. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13905378.
  12. Bakhit M, Nazari, S, Eidipour, K. The relationship between social attrition and occupational well-being of football federation employees through the mediation of interpersonal conflict. 2017; 9(45):115-132. 10.22089/smrj.2018.3270.1647. [In Persian].
  13. 13. Moustakas L, Wagner J. Conceptualization and measurement of social cohesion within the sport and physical activity context. Sports. 2023;11(12):231. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11120231.
  14. 14. Cotterill S, Fransen K. Athlete Leadership in Sport Teams: Current Understanding and Future Directions. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2016;9(1):16–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2015.1124443.
  15. 15. Gao Z, Chee CS, Norjali Wazir MRW, Wang J, Zheng X, Wang T. The role of parents in the motivation of young athletes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology. 2024;14. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1291711.
  16. 16. Ruiz MC, Appleton PR, Duda JL, Bortoli L, Robazza C. Social environmental antecedents of athletes' emotions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(9):Article 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094997.
  17. Deepak D. A comparative study of socio-economic status in individual and team sports. A comparative study of socio-economic status in individual and team sport. 2024;5(2):108–10. DOI:10.33545/27077012.2024.v5.i2b.279.
  18. Richard V, Cairney J, Woods CT. Holding open spaces to explore beyond: Toward a different conceptualization of specialization in high-performance sport. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023;14. Article 1089264. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1089264.
  19. Eather N, Wade L, Pankowiak A, Eime R. The impact of sports participation on mental health and social outcomes in adults: a systematic review and the 'Mental Health through Sport' conceptual model. Systematic Reviews. 2023;12(102). doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02264-8.
  20. DeFreese JD, Smith AL. Athlete social support, negative social interactions, and psychological health across a competitive sport season. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2025;36(6):619–30. DOI: 10.1123/jsep.2014-0040.
  21. 21. Simons EE, Bird MD. Coach-athlete relationship, social support, and psychological well-being in NCAA athletes. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. 2023;17(3):191–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2022.2060703.