Abstract
Identity development has been conceptualized through Marcia's (1966, 1967, 1980) identity status model, whereby an individual can adopt an identity status (i.e., achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, or diffusion) that varies along a continuum between commitment and crisis (Marcia, 1980). With Canada's top athletes spending close to 40 hours per week training and rating sport as the most important aspect of their lives (Ekos Research Associates, 2005), the question arises whether such devotion impacts identity development. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine identity status in Canadian national team athletes. As part of a larger study, questionnaires were completed by Sport Canada carded athletes and by students from a Canadian university. Identity status was assessed using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego-Identity Status (EOMEIS-2) (Bennion & Adams, 1986). Results indicated likeness and variation, with athletes scoring similarly to university students in measures of identity diffusion, moratorium, and achievement, but scoring higher than university students in identity foreclosure. With this latter finding supporting the view that that the task of identity formation can be challenging given sport's push for commitment and conformity (Pearson & Petitpas, 1990) , the discussion will focus on how transitioning to adulthood may be a unique process for Canadian high performance athletes.Acknowledgments: This study received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.