Dilemma of Top Athletes in Choosing Their Studies

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine whether satisfaction with the choice of studies of Slovenian top athletes affects the sports performance and whether the sports performance affects the study performance.

Study design/methodology/approach: We surveyed 112 Slovenian top athletes.  The data used in the quantitative survey was based on a selected sample of top athletes, primarily members of the SLO Olympic Team. We used linear multiple regression analysis (the Enter method so that all of the selected variables were included in the model at the same time. The Enter method shows us all of the variables in the results, even if their influence is not statistically significant). From each factor, we obtained the average value of the response, which was processed with Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis. We measured the Study performance and the Sports performance with the Likert scale from 1 to 5.

Findings: We found from the research that if a top athlete is satisfied with the choice of studies, the study performance (linear, positive and high correlation) will consequently increase. We also found that if the performance in sports increases, this results in a decrease in the study performance (linear, negative, and low correlation).

Originality/value: The conducted research determined the success factors of dual careers of Slovenian top athletes, because so far there has been little research focusing on the factors relating to successful outside–of–sports (Academic) careers of athletes.

https://www.doi.org/10.53615/2232-5697.10.51-63