The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis from 1993 to 2021

Abstract

Sport psychology embraced the study of athletic identity in the 1990s. The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) is at the forefront of athletic identity measurement. This quantitative review examined two hypotheses: individual who are most engaged in sports identify most as athletes and thus score higher on the AIMS, and athletic identity relates to positive (e.g., intrinsic motivation) and negative (negative emotions) factors. In addition to our two hypotheses, we explored whether the AIMS subscales influenced our two hypotheses. After completing a systematic search of SPORTDiscus, APA PsycINFO, ERIC, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection APA within the EBSCOhost platform along with some hand searching, 101 articles published between 1993 and our end date of August 2021 met the inclusion criteria. The included studies investigated 20,498 athletes competing in a variety of sports from the following continents: Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. We based all analyses on random- and mixed-effects statistics. Higher-achieving athletes, as expected, self-reported a higher degree of athletic identity. The differences between athlete groups were significant (p < 0.001) and meaningful (g values ranged from 1.55 to 1.93). The AIMS total score correlations with positive and negative factors (correlates) were small in magnitude (r = 0.22 and 0.17). However, the relationships differed across correlate subcategories (e.g., intrinsic motivation/commitment, r = 0.51, and body issues, r = 0.14). Minimal AIMS subscale reporting occurred across the 101 studies; thus, we could not assess their importance with certainty. In conclusion, a higher degree of athletic identity related to valued sport correlates such as intrinsic motivation/commitment and the mastery goal orientation. These correlations were small in relation to negative or less desirable factors in sport such as body disorder issues and negative emotions. We recommend future research of greater complexity and the reporting of athletes’ competitive backgrounds to understand athletic identity. In addition, researchers should report AIMS subscale data.

Soccer above all? Analysis of academic and vocational education among female soccer players in the German women's Bundesliga and 2nd women's Bundesliga

“…(v) Research shows that a very strong sporting identity, especially if it marginalizes other identities and values (for example, regarding education), is often associated with increased risks for the person ( 103 , 104 ). Future studies on dual careers in women's soccer should therefore directly analyze the influence of Athletic Identity ( 105 , 106 ) on education-related decisions by operationalizing and surveying Athletic Identity in the survey instrument Brewer. (vi) Vocational or academic education are intertemporal allocation decisions.…”

The adapted French version of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-FR): Evidence of validity and reliability and relationships with sport well-being

“…This study was conducted among elite Croatian sprinters and found positive correlations between certain dimensions of engagement (dedication, enthusiasm) and athletic identity. Other positive relationships were highlighted in the meta-analysis by Lochbaum et al [ 22 ] between athletic identity and constructs related to certain dimensions of engagement, such as intrinsic motivation and commitment (constructs close to dedication), positive affect, emotions and feelings (close to enthusiasm), self-esteem, worth, and competence (close to confidence). Among SAs, four studies have shown that athletic identity is positively related to constructs closely associated with sport engagement, such as enthusiastic commitment [ 19 ], achievement [ 43 ] or autonomous [ 44 ] motivation, or intrinsic interest in and value of sport [ 16 ].…”

“…Numerous correlates of athletic or academic identity have been documented (i.e., variables that may have reciprocal causality with identity), with associations whose effect sizes are generally small to moderate [ 22 ]. For example, several studies have confirmed Brewer et al’s [ 8 ] hypothesis that athletes competing at elite and advanced levels should endorse a higher athletic identity than those competing at lower levels [ 5 , 6 , 20 ]; for reviews see [ 7 , 22 ]. Reaching international or Olympic levels requires a greater commitment of time, energy and resources than reaching lower levels.…”

Differences in athletic identity, sport participation, and psychosocial factors following anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation in youth athletes

“…The current return-to-sport criteria primarily emphasize physical measures of readiness; however, psychological measures of rehabilitation, such as athletic identity, may also be valuable due to the influence of injury and rehabilitation on these metrics ( Lochbaum et al, 2022 ). For example, depressive symptoms and loss of motivation over rehabilitation, which lead to worsened physical function, may be increased in those with high athletic identity ( Christino et al, 2015 ; Morgan et al, 2020 ; Renton et al, 2021 ), particularly high athletic identity youth ( Manuel et al, 2002 ; Chow et al, 2016 ; McKay et al, 2019 ; Edison et al, 2021 ; Nyland and Pyle, 2022 ).…”

“…As physical function and psychological recovery from situational change appear to be related to athletic identity, it may be beneficial to gain an understanding of this characteristic over the course of rehabilitation ( Edison et al, 2021 ; Lochbaum et al, 2022 ). However, the literature primarily provides data for athletic identity at pre-injury or immediately post-injury.…”