Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9564-2024

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

OTD

College

School of Medicine

Department

Occupational Therapy

Committee Chair

Kayleigh Nolan

Committee Co-Chair

Brittney O'Dell

Committee Member

Heather Livengood

Abstract

There is a high prevalence of role strain experienced among collegiate athletes with increased attention and awareness surrounding its impact on the transition out of sport and into the next phase of their lives. Many colleges and universities throughout the United States have developed career readiness programs focused on mental health, career transitions, and resilience training preparation for life after sport. However, these programs are often delivered in a group format, making it difficult to provide individualized support to student-athletes. This project elaborated on the role occupational therapy serves in both program development and the transition out of sport. This project was two-fold, including a program that matched a student-athlete with a WVU Affiliate that was successful in their field, titled Beyond the Game: Student-Athlete Mentorship and one-on-one career readiness programs to enhance professional social engagement skills in preparation for networking events, titled Preparing Beyond the Game. Beyond the Game: Student-Athlete Mentorship was a pilot study with 15 upperclassman Olympic sport student-athletes and 15 mentors who were recruited from the Summit Society of the Mountaineer Athletic Association. The findings from the mentorship program showed an increase in mentee confidence from pre-test to post-test regarding leadership skills, having someone to turn to for advice, having connections in their field, managing finances, and an increase in perceived preparedness to handle the change to their identify after sport. However, there was a decrease in perceived preparedness to enter the real world after graduation and decreased confidence in networking and applying for jobs. The program results indicate that the student-athletes found value in both programs and perceived that the mentorship program prepared them for transition out of sport and the next phase of their lives.

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