ABSTRACT
Of the many concerns preventing athletes from engaging in activism include the fear of increased distress and a need for greater emotional regulation (e.g., Cunningham & Regan, 2012; Smith et al., 2016). Indeed, activism is related to increased levels of distress (Smith et al., 2016). Nonetheless, further examination reveals that activism is simultaneously related to several positive outcomes (e.g., greater sense of self, increased confidence, enhanced agency, heightened hope, stronger sense of purpose, more flourishing; Klar & Kasser, 2009; Rabkin et al., 2018). Activism also utilizes several skills similar to athletics (e.g., discipline, goal-setting, fearlessness, focus; Kaufman & Wolff, 2010). Thus, the present chapter provides a theoretical analysis of the psychosocial effects of athlete activism as it relates to stress and resilience. In this chapter, it is argued that activism may provide a unique opportunity to bolster psychological skills related to performance such as mental toughness, stress control mindset, goal-setting, and fearlessness. The chapter will then conclude in a call to action for researchers to design and evaluate interventions that train and engage athletes in activism. These interventions should also consider intentionally pairing psychological skills development as part of the curriculum to facilitate the transferability of each skill, potentially resulting in benefits to society and sport performance.
