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Journals / Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 37 Sayı: 2

The Invisible Labour in Youth Sports: A Phenomenological Perspective on the Intensive Mothering Experiences of Athletes’ Mothers

Gençlik Sporunda Görünmeyen Emek: Sporcu Annelerinin Yoğun Annelik Deneyimlerine Fenomenolojik Bakış

Aydan Gözmen Elmas(MARMARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SPOR BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BEDEN EĞİTİMİ VE SPOR EĞİTİMİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0003-3633-0629
Pages
160–176
Publication Date
2026-06-16
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that intensive mothering ideology within high-performance sport contexts negatively affects mothers’ mental health and well-being, highlighting the need for supportive and gender-sensitive approaches.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines the experiences of mothers of elite youth athletes within the conceptual framework of intensive mothering and investigates the reflections of this process on mothers’ mental health.
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Key Findings & Data:Adopting a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers (n=10) of licensed athletes aged 10-13 in football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and swimming clubs in Istanbul.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, this study demonstrates that intensive mothering ideology within high-performance sport contexts negatively affects mothers’ mental health and well-being, highlighting the need for supportive and gender-sensitive approaches.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Yoğun annelik · Gençlik sporu · Zihinsel sağlık

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of mothers of elite youth athletes within the conceptual framework of intensive mothering and investigates the reflections of this process on mothers’ mental health. Adopting a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers (n=10) of licensed athletes aged 10-13 in football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and swimming clubs in Istanbul. As a result of the interpretative phenomenological analysis, two main themes emerged: a) intensive mothers of the field: the invisible load in youth sports; and b) imprisoned in guilt: coding personal space as “bad mothering.” The findings highlight the conflict between the physical, emotional, and cognitive labor of the mothers and the demanding pace of the sports; simultaneously, they reveal how the mothers' needs for self-care and career development are suppressed by gender-based ideological pressures. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that performing child-centered and sacrifice-oriented mothering confines mothers to an ‘invisible prison’ and creates a cycle of guilt that threatens their mental health. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that intensive mothering ideology within high-performance sport contexts negatively affects mothers’ mental health and well-being, highlighting the need for supportive and gender-sensitive approaches.

Özet

Bu çalışma, çocukları elit spor branşlarında yer alan annelerin deneyimlerini yoğun anneliğe dair kavramsal çerçevede incelemekte ve bu sürecin annelerin zihinsel sağlığı üzerindeki yansımalarını araştırmaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenolojik desenin benimsendiği çalışmada İstanbul’daki spor kulüplerinden futbol, basketbol, voleybol, cimnastik ve yüzme branşlarında lisanslı olarak yarışan 10-13 yaş grubu sporcuların anneleriyle (n=10) yarı yapılandırılmış bireysel görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yorumlayıcı fenomenolojik analiz sonucunda iki ana tema açığa çıkmıştır: a) Sahanın yoğun anneleri: Çocuğun sporundaki görünmez yük; b) Suçluluğa hapsolmak: Kişisel alanın “kötü annelik” olarak kodlanması. Bulgular, annelerin fiziksel, duygusal ve bilişsel emeğinin sporun yoğun temposuyla çatışmasını ele alırken; annelerin öz-bakım ve kariyer ihtiyaçlarının toplumsal cinsiyete dayalı ideolojik baskılarla nasıl bastırıldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bununla birlikte, araştırma çocuk merkezli ve fedakârlık odaklı anneliği gerçekleştiren anneleri “görünmez bir hapishaneye” sıkıştırdığını ve zihinsel sağlıklarını tehdit eden bir suçluluk döngüsü yarattığını göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma yoğun annelik ideolojisinin yüksek performanslı spor bağlamında annelerin zihinsel sağlığını ve öznel iyi oluşunu olumsuz etkilediğini ve destekleyici, toplumsal cinsiyet duyarlı yaklaşımlara duyulan ihtiyacı ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Elmas, A. G. (2026). The Invisible Labour in Youth Sports: A Phenomenological Perspective on the Intensive Mothering Experiences of Athletes’ Mothers. Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 37 Sayı: 2, 160–176. https://doi.org/10.17644/sbd.1858578

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