Psychosocial Impact after Early Abandonment of Sports Career in Soccer Athletes

Abstract

In recent years, scientific interest in the psychological dimension of athletes has grown significantly. However, there is still little knowledge about how these individuals reintegrate into society after the early end of their careers. In view of this, this study seeks to map the existing literature on the psychosocial impact of premature abandonment of sporting careers in soccer athletes, identifying gaps and directing future research on the subject. This is a scoping review that aims to answer the following research question: What is the psychosocial impact of early career abandonment on soccer players? To this end, scientific databases were analyzed and specific criteria applied to the selection of studies. Initially, 312 articles were pre-selected, of which only four met the eligibility criteria. The research protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) platform. The results show that, despite the relevance of the topic, the psychological and social issues faced by former athletes are still largely neglected in the sports world. As a result, there is a significant gap in knowledge about the challenges faced by these individuals and their processes of adaptation and reintegration into society. These findings reinforce the need for further scientific research and the implementation of support strategies that facilitate the transition to new professional and academic opportunities, promoting a more structured and humanized detachment from the sporting environment.