Watson, Grace Emily (2026) Exploring Psychological Outcomes and Coping Strategies After Performance Failure of Elite Athletes with Acquired Physical Disability. Research Master thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

Elite athletes with acquired physical disability (APD) may experience and respond to performance failure in psychologically unique ways; however, such experiences remain underexplored. Guided by a social constructivist approach, this qualitative study aimed to explore and understand how elite athletes with APD experience, cope with and psychologically respond to performance failure; with focussed attention on how athletes’ disability experiences may have shaped these psychological processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six experienced (Mexperience = 10.7, SD = 4.8) Australian elite athletes (two recently retired) with APD from diverse sports, each recalling significant performance failures within the past 12 (to 24, if recently retired) months. Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA; Braun & Clarke, 2021) facilitated an in-depth, interpretive exploration of meaning within the data, informed by reflexivity and researcher positionality. From a thorough analysis of participant narratives, three overarching themes emerged: (1) Motivational Disposition, (2) Coping Strategies and (3) Psychological Outcomes. Within these overarching themes, five interrelated key themes emerged: (1) “I didn’t come this far to give up”—Adaptive striving (Motivational Disposition), (2) “It is what it is”—Accepting what you can’t change (Coping Strategies), (3) “What’s next?”—Figuring out the plan (Coping Strategies), (4) “Speed bumps, not roadblocks”—Learning from failure (Coping Strategies) and (5) “You just keep going”—Building “unbreakable” resilience (Psychological Outcomes). These findings highlight the complex, profound and ultimately adaptive processes underpinning these athletes’ responses to failure. This thesis contributes to a richer theoretical understanding of performance failure and may help to inform inclusive psychological support and wellbeing practices within elite disability sport.

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