More than a game - Belonging and performance among professional athletes

Introduction: Belonging is a fundamental human need linked to wellbeing and performance in professional sport. While sport can foster belonging, it is also associated with mental health challenges. Understanding athletes’ experiences of belonging in team contexts may inform supportive practices in high-performance settings. Aim: to explore and describe how professional athletes perceive and understand a sense of belonging within their team sport in relation to individual and team performance. Method: A qualitative exploratory design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six professional athletes from three team sports. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings: Three themes were identified and described that belonging was fostered through emotional safety, shared goals, and mutual respect. It supported performance by enhancing focus, confidence, and motivation. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a sense of belonging plays a vital role in performance and psychological sustainability in professional team sports. Significance: The study provides insights relevant to coaches, occupational therapists and sport professionals aiming to promote athlete health and performance through inclusive and psychologically safe environments.