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Athletic identity is defined as the degree to which an individual identifies with the role of an athlete and will look to others for confirmation of that role (Brewer, Van Raatle, & Linder, 1993). However, the way in which individuals conceptualize the role of an athlete can vary. For some individuals being an athlete means participation in sport, whereas for others it may refer to being good at sports, and yet others may believe it means being physically active and fit (Anderson, 2004). Although athletic identity can be conceptualized differently by individuals, it generally relates to one's view of self in relation to physical activity and involvement in sport.
Athletic identity theory postulates that as the amount of time spent in sport increases, so will level of competition and level of skill. Increased time spent in sport and athletic performance are related to increased importance of sport to the individual and the extent to which he or she is likely to access athletic identity when negotiating various situations (Stryker, 1978). Individuals who access their sense of self within the context of sport more frequently and highly value this aspect of self, are likely to develop higher levels of athletic identity (Curry, 1993; Horton & Mack, 2000; Stryker, 1987).
When viewed in conjunction with other aspects of one's self-concept, athletic identity plays a significant role in understanding one's cognitive structure and social role composition and thus becomes relevant to both athletes and non-athletes alike (Horton & Mack, 2000). To date, the possession of a strong athletic identity in individuals without disabilities has been associated with better athletic performance, commitment to sport, expanded social networks, and more positive experiences in training (Horton & Mack, 2000). Athletic identity also has implications for one's health and fitness with individuals with strong athletic identities demonstrating increased social relationships (Anderson, 2004; Petitpas, 1978) and overall commitment to athletic performance (Horton & Mack, 2000). Additionally, individuals with a high degree of athletic identity have increased participation in physical activity and exercise (Anderson, 2004; Fox & Corbin, 1986). Recent studies have also discovered that adolescents who participate in sport and develop a sense of athletic identity in childhood are more likely to continue their engagement in physical activity into adulthood and thus improve their fitness levels over the course of their life (Pica, 2003).
In addition to the positive benefits that may be derived from the establishment of a strong athletic identity, various negative consequences may also emerge. Good and colleagues (1993) determined that a strong athletic identity in individuals without disabilities who have not explored various identity alternatives may result in over training or emotional vulnerability when faced with poor athletic performance or career ending injuries. Additionally, strong exclusive athletic identity has been linked to vulnerability to depression (Brewer, 1993), less interest in academic achievement (Cornelius, 1995), and susceptibility to performance enhancing drug use (Cornelius, 1995). Although research has begun to shed light on the relationship between athletic identity and related constructs, much remains to be explored especially when it involves athletes with disabilities.
Williams (1994) contends that for individuals with disabilities, the importance of sport as a context for identity formation lies in its ability to serve as a source of resistance to prevailing definitions of disability. As Justin Dart noted, "athletes can play a much larger role in communicating the potential of people with disabilities ... not simply to do outstanding things physically, but to convey the potential to play the role of full citizen" (Segedy, 1995, p. 24). Groffand Kleiber (2001) found in a qualitative study of 11 youth with physical disabilities that adapted sports appeared to provide them with a context that impacts both personal and social identity. Sport served as an outlet for expression and provided information that individuals used to develop their self-perceptions. The youth also indicated that the social interaction that occurred during sport facilitated a sense of group identity because they experienced a sense of connectedness to others which often afforded them an opportunity to be their "true selves." Finally, sport provided a context in which the youth felt a decreased awareness of their disability and thus allowed them to explore various identity alternatives and express themselves in new ways. Therefore, it may be that sport plays a specific role in facilitating the social and personal identity of athletes with disabilities both within the specific domain of sport and perhaps, beyond. Conclusive empirical evidence to support this assertion is lacking.
Of utmost importance when discussing the impact of athletic identity, is the presence of a psychometrically sound instrument capable of accurately measuring this construct. The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) is commonly used to measure athletic identity. The AIMS was designed to explore the strength and exclusivity of an individual's athletic identity and has been...
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