Self-perception of dual career barriers and athletic identity in student-athletes with disabilities according to socio-demographic, sport and academic variables

The objective of this study was to analyse the perceived barriers to dual career success and athletic identity of student-athletes according to sociodemographic, sport, and academic variables. The final sample consisted of 203 student-athletes with disabilities from five European countries. The questionnaires used were ESTPORT, EBBS and AIMS. It was found that: a) women showed higher levels of tiredness (p=0.028); b) student-athletes with cerebral palsy and deafness showed higher barriers (p=0.023-0.001); c) semi-professional and professional student-athletes showed higher barriers (p=0.040-0.034) and identity as athletes (p=0.043-0.000); d) student-athletes who were at the end of their sports career showed significantly higher barriers (p=0.010) and lower athlete identity (p=0.022-0.000); and e) student-athletes in pre-university and university degree studies showed higher barriers (p=0.030-0.001). In conclusion, the self-perception of barriers is quite relevant, with differences arising from socio-demographic characteristics, type of disability, stage of sports career and type of education attended.