Self-actualization and self-transcendence: An empirical model of athletes' meaning in elite sport.
Psychology of Sport And Exercise July 1, 2026 Violetta Oblinger-Peters, Kristoffer Henriksen, Andreas Küttel et al.
Meaning in elite sport—experiencing life as coherent, significant, oriented, and belonging—has gained attention, yet its conceptualization remains fragmented. Interviews with 13 international Olympic athletes from February 2022 to August 2024 revealed two routes to meaning: self-actualization, arising from self-determination, competence, personal purpose, and mattering to oneself; and self-transcendence, emerging through a wider purpose, mattering to others, contributing, and nurturing relationships. The model integrates dimensions of coherence, significance, purpose, belonging, and psychological needs for autonomy, competence, relatedness, and contribution. Findings suggest practitioners can support both routes to enhance athlete wellbeing.