대학 여자축구선수의 재활과정에 따른 심리적 변화와 극복전략: 근거이론적 접근

Purpose: This study aimed to discover psychological changes of female soccer athletes in college during the rehabilitation process for their successful recovery and seek solutions that can help them overcome their difficulties. Methods: The current research selected seven female soccer athletes registered in the College Women’s Soccer League who have had experiences of receiving rehabilitation from injury. The approach of Constructing Grounded Theory analyzed the obtained data through individual and focus group interviews. Result: Women soccer athletes had negative thoughts in the early stages of rehabilitation and at the same time experienced a cyclical psychological process in which they repeatedly put effort to think positive. In addition, they felt ambivalent feelings about their career. Their psychological changes in the middle of the rehabilitation process showed that the rehabilitation situation made them feel nervous, anxious, and pressured. However, they gradually gained confidence while recovering from injury and focused on their efforts to return. While they felt excited to return at the end of the rehabilitation process, the current study found ambivalent feelings derived from burden and pressure due to the anxiety about the recurrence. There were four dimensions to overcome difficulties as follows: 1) self-confidence improvement strategies and psychological overcoming such as positive thinking conversion; 2) physical overcoming such as training for return; 3) environmental support for professional programs to female athletes; and 4) social support from critical others. Conclusion: Female college soccer players went through various psychological changes in the rehabilitation process. We can see the conflict of ambivalent emotions that made them seriously consider their athletic careers. In the rehabilitation process, the psychological process of reducing or resolving the scope of these ambivalent emotions can serve as a vehicle to redefine one’s identity as an athlete. Therefore, professional sports psychological counseling and systematic support that contains the content based on this will be in need for athletes in the rehabilitation process.