Precarious and vulnerable work: The experiences of applied sport psychologists

This article analyzes the vulnerable and precarious nature of applied sport psychology practice. Adopting a longitudinal approach over an 18-month period, data were collected through 41 semi-structured interviews with six applied sport psychologists working across soccer, swimming, and athletics. Interviews took place at 6-8 week intervals, and transcripts were iteratively analyzed with Kalleberg’s (2009) theorization of precarity and Kelchtermans’ (2009a, 2009b) writings around vulnerability adopted as the primary heuristic devices. Four themes were identified, highlighting how: (a) ‘precarious employment conditions’; (b) ‘constrained decision making’; (c) ‘challenges to demonstrating impact’; and (d) ‘contrasting beliefs of appropriate practice’ typified practitioners’ applied experiences. Our findings and analysis advance discussions about the precarious nature of applied sport psychology work by recognizing some of the inherent structural vulnerabilities that characterize the role. Insights developed from this research have important implications for the profession, including the preparation, development, employment and ongoing support of its workforce.