Residual Athletic Identity, Body Image, and Emotional Symptoms in Retired Rhythmic Gymnasts

Residual Athletic Identity, Body Image, and Emotional Symptoms in Retired Rhythmic Gymnasts: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background. Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport characterized by high physical and aesthetic demands and typically early competitive retirement. In this context, athletic identity and body image play a central role during the athletic career and may be compromised after retirement, particularly in aesthetic disciplines. However, the relationship between these constructs in retired rhythmic gymnasts has been scarcely investigated.

Objective. To analyze the relationship between athletic identity and body image in retired rhythmic gymnasts, in order to better understand the psychosocial factors influencing post-retirement adaptation.

Methods. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study will be conducted using a self-administered online survey targeting retired rhythmic gymnasts aged ≥18 years. The primary study variables will be positive body image and residual athletic identity. Additional independent and predictive variables will include sociodemographic characteristics and sport career-related factors (age, age at initiation in rhythmic gymnastics, duration of the athletic career, highest competitive level achieved, and satisfaction with the athletic career). A set of potential confounding or moderating variables will also be considered (time since retirement and type of sport retirement). Statistical analyses will include descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Expected results. An association between residual athletic identity and body image after sport retirement is expected, moderated by time since retirement and type of retirement, with implications for identifying profiles of greater vulnerability and informing the design of preventive interventions.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Retirement
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Adult retired rhythmic gymnasts

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD; Phone Number: 0034 985103386; Email: cuestaruben@uniovi.es
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD; Email: cuestaruben@uniovi.es

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Principality of Asturias
    • Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, Spain, 33006
      • Universidad de Oviedo
      • Contact: Ruben Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD; Phone Number: 0034 985 103 386; Email: cuestaruben@uniovi.es

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Retired gymnasts with different levels of residual athletic identity (low versus moderate/high), as well as comparisons according to type of retirement (voluntary versus involuntary) and time since retirement, adjusting for emotional variables such as anxiety and depression.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Are aged ≥18 years.
• Are female.
• Have practiced rhythmic gymnastics during their competitive stage at any competitive level.
• Are retired from competitive practice at the time of participation.
• Are able to report the time elapsed since retirement and the type of retirement (voluntary or involuntary).
• Agree to participate by providing informed consent and completing the online survey.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Are not truly retired (i.e., maintain active competitive participation at the time of the study).
• Have a time since retirement greater than 5 years.
• Have incomplete questionnaires for variables essential to the analysis.
• Provide clearly inconsistent or implausible responses in key variables (e.g., evident incompatibilities between age, age at initiation, and career duration) that preclude valid interpretation of the data.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Observational group	Other: Adult retired rhythmic gymnasts; Adult retired rhythmic gymnasts who have completed their competitive athletic careers, regardless of the time elapsed since retirement and whether retirement was voluntary or involuntary.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of body image	This variable will be assessed using the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), a validated questionnaire that measures appreciation of and a positive relationship with one's body at the present time. The scale consists of 10 items with Likert-type response options. The total score will be calculated as the sum or mean of the items, with higher values indicating greater body appreciation.	Screening visit
Measurement of residual athletic identity	This variable will be assessed using the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS-E), a widely used instrument to measure the extent to which athletic identity remains central to the self-concept after sport retirement. The scale provides a total score (and subscale scores, depending on the version used), with higher values reflecting greater residual athletic identity.	Screening visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of age	This variable, considered an independent and predictive factor, will be recorded in years.	Screening visit
Measurement of age at initiation in rhythmic gymnastics	This variable, considered an independent and predictive factor, will be recorded in years.	Screening visit
Measurement of athletic career duration	This variable, considered an independent and predictive factor, will be recorded in years from the onset of competitive practice until retirement.	Screening visit
Measurement of highest competitive level achieved	This variable, considered an independent and predictive factor, will be recorded as an ordinal categorical variable classified as regional, national, or international.	Screening visit
Measurement of satisfaction with the athletic career	This variable, considered an independent and predictive factor, will be assessed using a Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicating greater overall satisfaction with the athletic career.	Screening visit

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of time since retirement	This variable, considered potentially confounding or moderating due to its possible effect on both residual athletic identity and body image, will be recorded in years.	Screening visit
Measurement of type of sport retirement	This variable, considered potentially confounding or moderating due to its possible effect on both residual athletic identity and body image, will be recorded as a dichotomous qualitative variable categorized as voluntary retirement or involuntary retirement (due to injury or other reasons).	Screening visit
Measurement of anxiety	This variable, considered potentially confounding or moderating due to its possible effect on both residual athletic identity and body image, will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). This instrument consists of two independent subscales measuring state anxiety, understood as a transient emotional condition, and trait anxiety, reflecting a stable tendency to experience anxiety. Each subscale provides a total score, with higher values indicating greater anxiety levels.	Screening visit
Measurement of depressive symptoms	This variable, considered potentially confounding or moderating due to its possible effect on both residual athletic identity and body image, will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). This questionnaire measures the severity of depressive symptomatology in adult populations and provides a total score reflecting symptom intensity, with higher scores indicating greater severity.	Screening visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oviedo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): February 12, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 13, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Mental Health; Athletes; Adaptation; Body Image; Retirement; Gymnastics; Identity, Self
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Personal Satisfaction; Psychological Well-Being
• Other Study ID Numbers: GR-RETIRO

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No