Stressors experienced by professional jockeys

Lewis King, Sarah Jane Cullen, Jean McArdle, Adrian McGoldrick, Jennifer Pugh, Giles Warrington, Ciara Losty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the sources of stress reported by professional jockeys. In total, 15 jockeys participated in semistructured interviews that included apprentice, conditional, and senior jockeys. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data that included inductive and deductive approaches. Jockeys reported a wide range of stress sources. Four core themes were identified and categorized as competitive (current form or being in a slump, pressure, horse, injury, opponents, tactical, and race day), racing industry (weight, workload, travel demands, injury concerns, suspension, and facilities), interpersonal (trainer, other jockeys, expectations of others, support networks, and communication), and career stressors (career uncertainty, career opportunities, and transitions). The findings highlight unique stressors to the jockey population, as well as stressors common with other athlete groups. Practical applied recommendations and future research directions are provided.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)142-154
Number of pages13
JournalSport Psychologist
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Athlete
  • Horseracing
  • Sport psychology
  • Stress

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