Choosing between sport and family? Perceived barriers to parenthood among female elite ice hockey players
Lahti A, Lindman I. · Research Square · 2026
Abstract
Background: Female athletes often compete at an elite level during their reproductive years. However, little is known about athletes’ perceptions of whether parenthood can be combined with an elite sporting career.
Aim: To investigate perceived barriers to parenthood among female elite ice hockey players and identify factors associated with perceiving parenthood as incompatible with elite sport.
Methods: During the 2026–2027 season, 135 players aged 22.9 ± 4.3 years from the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) completed an online questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether age, training volume, amenorrhea, access to a team doctor, or financial self-sufficiency through ice hockey were associated with perceiving parenthood as incompatible with elite ice hockey.
Results: Among all players, 35 (25.9%) perceived that parenthood could be combined with elite ice hockey, whereas 98 (72.6%) did not; 2 players (1.5%) did not respond to the question. Among the latter, financial difficulties were the most reported barrier ((n = 58, 59.2%). Older age was independently associated with perceiving parenthood as incompatible with elite-level ice hockey (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.32, p = 0.022), while no other significant differences were found.
Conclusion: Most elite female ice hockey players perceived parenthood as incompatible with elite sport. Among these players, financial difficulties were the most reported barrier, whereas older age was independently associated with this perception in the overall population. Future research should investigate how elite sport environments can better support athletes who wish to combine parenthood with an elite sporting career.