The Influence of Cultural Transmission on an Athletic Trainer’s Career Longevity

Context The field of athletic training faces significant retention challenges, with decisions to leave influenced by various factors, one of which may be professional identity. One critical but underexplored factor is how cultural transmission—the passing down of professional norms and values—affects athletic trainers’ professional identities. Objective To investigate the influence of cultural transmission on the professional identities of athletic trainers who have allowed their certifications to lapse. Design Concurrent mixed-methods design grounded in postmodernism. Setting Web-based surveys and semi structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Patients or Other Participants Twelve participants (age = 40 ± 11 years; years of experience = 16 ± 14) who allowed their certifications to lapse within the past 3 years. Data Collection and Analysis Participants completed a demographic survey and the validated Professional Identity and Values Scale (PIVS). Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes within the interview transcripts by a 3-person data analysis team. Results Participants scored reasonably high on the PIVS (92.01 ± 12.10). Participants reported maintaining their professional identities in athletic training despite leaving the profession, with a central theme of identity and its influential factors (local environment, athletic training values, and personal values) in conflict leading to their transitions out of the profession. Mentors and workplace support played significant roles in shaping their experiences. Many participants expressed dissatisfaction with professional norms, such as long hours and poor work-life integration, and felt disenfranchised due to lack of respect within the profession. Transferable skills like problem-solving and communication were emphasized as valuable in their career transitions. Conclusions Cultural transmission significantly shapes an athletic trainer’s professional identity. Strong mentorship, workplace respect, and alignment with personal values significantly enhanced participants’ professional identities yet, in these cases, were insufficient to retain these athletic trainers. Improving these areas may reduce attrition in athletic training.