A qualitative investigation of elite athletes’ coping insight patterns from self-distanced and self-immersed stressor reflections

Elite sport involves confronting stressors that can disrupt athletes’ functionality and harm their psychological well-being. Reflecting on these stressors is crucial for gaining insights into coping strategies and future adaptations. We aimed to examine the coping insights developed from engagement in these reflective practices. Via a qualitative analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial, athletes were randomized to a self-distanced (n = 33) or self-immersed condition (n = 33) and guided to reflect systematically on a key stressor each week over a five-week period. Using an established self-reflection and coping insight framework to guide our framework analysis, we interpreted both similarities and differences between groups across various coping insights. Athletes exhibited signs of self-awareness, trigger identification, and re-appraisal, regardless of their reflective perspective. However, athletes from both groups reported limited insight into values consideration, evaluation, and fostering a future-focus. Stressors reported by athletes were predominantly mild in magnitude or “everyday” in nature. Our findings highlight the need for robust examinations of the self-reflection approach to unlock higher-level insights (future-focus, evaluation of coping strategies) that can enhance resilient capacities. Challenges with recruitment and retention highlights the need for pilot and feasibility analyzes before progressing to fully powered randomized controlled trials with athlete populations.