Case study of collegiate Division I diver: perseverance, acceptance, and shifting identity

Jacob Cannon Jensen
2018 Zenodo  
This instrumental case study focused on the experiences of John, a Division I collegiate diver and his battle with acrophobia, or fear of heights, as well as Wilson's disease. This condition causes the body to store excess amounts of copper in the body, especially the liver, which can lead to long-term damage to vital organs. Through thematic analysis of interviews, field notes, and participant observations, the central themes that emerged from the data were those of perseverance, acceptance,
more » ... d shifting identities. John used a range of mental skills such as imagery, relaxation exercises, and exposure to heights in order to learn to manage his fear of heights. However, John also had to accept the fact that he was not chosen to be on the traveling team, would probably never fulfill the early expectations placed on him of becoming an Olympic diver, shifting identities from that of student athlete to that of student and diving coach, and a lifetime of managing a chronic disease. The instrumental case study allowed for an exploration into the sociological and psychological complexities of being a high-level athlete. This case study highlighted that helping an athlete from a sports psychology perspective is a complex undertaking and that athletes can have a combination of cognitive and motivational factors that impact their performance. This study could be useful for sport psychology consultants, athletes, and coaches working with athletes struggling with phobias and chronic illness and/or injury.
doi:10.5281/zenodo.3545106 fatcat:vyhvwrub6nbenleayntyhk4x7q