Role Conflict and the Elite Female Athlete: Empirical Findings and Conceptual Dilemmas

Abstract

Whereas gender-related literature portrays an image of psychological struggle, role conflict and identity crisis for the female athelete, empirical studies indicate that female athletes perceive and experience a relatively low level of conflict, regardless of their age, level of competitive experience and the sport in which they compete. This study further supports these findings. 44 female powerlifters competing at the 1981 National US championship were administered questionnaires including a role conflict instrument. Factor analysis identified the four factors of emotion, attraction, the sport-performance component and the significant other component and showed the multidimensionality of the construct of role conflict. Further differentiation of this concept is necessary.