Female Atheltic Trainers: Work and Life Balance

Exit Survey »

Dear Female Athletic Trainer,

Thank you for agreeing to participate in out research project examining female athletic trainer's views on motherhood, work life balance, and the collegiate setting. In this study, we are asking you to complete a series of open-ended questions that inquires about your views on the collegiate clinical setting and the plausibility of motherhood. Participation will only take approximately 30 minutes.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary; however it is very important for us to learn your opinions. There are no foreseeable risks associated with this project. However, if you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you may skip them or you may withdraw from the survey at any point.

Your responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate. The Institutional Review Board of the University of Connecticut has approved this research. If you have questions at any time about the survey or the procedures, you may contact Stephanie Mazerolle at [email protected] or Elizabeth Ferraro at [email protected].

Thank you very much for your time and support. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the Continue button below.

Please answer all of the questions in the first section, the Background Questionnaire. Then continue to the next section and journal to the open ended questions in the space provided. You only need to respond to the section that applies to you: Single, Married/Living with significant other, Married/Living with significant other with children. If you have any questions please contact either Liz or Stephanie.

Background Questionnaire

How old are you?

Number of years as a BOC Certified ATC?

Number of years at current position?

Are you currently an assistant athletic trainer? If other, please specify:

Have you worked in other clinical settings in addition to the college setting?

Indicate your highest level of education

How long is your contract [i.e. 9 months, 10 months, 12 months]?

Do you have summer work hours or expectations? Please explain.

Average work week (hours): In-Season Coverage

Average work week (hours): Out-of-Season Coverage

Average travel load (days per month): In-Season Coverage

Average travel load (days per month): Out-of-Season Coverage

What are your sport coverage assignments during the year?

How many full-time staff members do you have at your institution?

How many full-time staff members are female?

How would you characterize your current family situation [children, no children, # of children]?

While at work, who is the primary care giver for your child? (Select all that apply)

Please journal in the following section if you are SINGLE.
Continue to next page if married/living with significant other or married/living with significant other with children.

What are your professional goals?

What are your personal goals?

Based upon your goals do you envision a lifelong career in athletic training?

Discuss if working in the athletic training profession provides a suitable working environment to achieve a balanced life style.

What role does your current marital and family status play in your response?

What role does your personality play in your response?

Have you experienced challenges finding a balance between your personal and professional life? If so, what factors have contributed to the challenge? If not, why haven't you had challenges?

Has being a female athletic trainer influenced your experiences of work and life balance issues?

Do you have a support system that helps you maintain a healthy balance between your personal and professional life? Please describe your support system.

What personal strategies do you capitalize on to maintain or promote a balance between your personal and professional life?

What role does your family play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role do your co-workers play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role does your coaching staff play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role does your supervisor play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

Is your supervisor male or female?

Do they have a family of their own?

Would they be supportive of your family pursuits/needs?

What personal strategies do you utilize to sustain your professional enthusiasm?

Will this change once you have a family? If so, how?

Will this change based upon your personal goals? If so, how?

Describe for me how your work setting has influenced your professional commitment.

Do you believe, once you have a family, that you will have to make sacrifices personally and/or professionally? Please describe.

As a young female, have you had a role model/mentor, who has helped you grow professionally? Please elaborate [why, what role they played, etc.].

Was your role model male or female?

In your opinion could having more female role models [those who remain in the profession with children] influence retention rates for other female athletic trainers? Please explain.

Please answer following section if you are MARRIED/LIVING with SIGNIFICANT OTHER.
Continue to next section if you are married/living with significant other with children.

What are your professional goals?

What are your personal goals?

Discuss if working in the athletic training profession provides a suitable working environment to achieve a balanced life style.

What role does your gender play in your response?

What role does your current marital and family status play in your response?

What role does your personality play in your response?

Have you experienced challenges finding a balance between your personal and professional life? If so, what factors have contributed to the challenges? If not, why haven't you had challenges?

Has being a female athletic trainer influenced your experiences of work and life balance issues?

What personal strategies do you capitalize on to maintain or promote a balance between your personal and professional life?

What role does your spouse play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role do your co-workers play in your ability to find a balanced life-style?

What role does your coaching staff play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role does your supervisor play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

Is your supervisor male or female?

Do they have a family of their own?

Would they be supportive of your family pursuits/needs?

What personal strategies do you utilize to sustain your professional enthusiasm?

Will this change once you have a family?

Has this changed since you got married?

Describe for me how your work setting has influenced your professional commitment.

Do you believe, once you have a family, that you will have to make sacrifices personally and/or professionally? Please describe.

As a young female, have you had a role model/mentor, who has helped you grow professionally? Please elaborate [why, what tole they played, etc.].

In your opinion could having more female role models [those who remain in the profession with children] influence retention rates of other female athletic trainers? Please explain.

Please answer the following section if you are MARRIED/LIVING with SIGNIFICANT OTHER with CHILDREN.

What, if any, organizational policies are in place to help you as a female athletic trainer with children to help maintain a balanced life style?

Do you feel that since starting your family you have had to make sacrifices personally and/or professionally? Please describe.

Do you feel as though you will be able to persist in your current position with your current job and family responsibilities?

What are your professional goals?

Have they changed since you've started a family? If so, how?

Discuss if working in the athletic training profession provides a suitable working environment to achieve a balanced life style.

What role does your gender play in your response?

What role does your current marital and family status play in your response?

What role does your personality play in your response?

Describe your personality.

Have you experienced challenges finding a balance between your personal and professional life? If so, what factors have contributed to the challenge? If not, why haven't you had challenges?

Has being a female athletic trainer influenced your experiences of work and life balance issues?

Has a female with children influenced your experiences of work and life balance issues? If so, how?

Discuss how your work/life balance has changed from being a single professional to being a married professional to being married with children? Were the challenges different at each life stage for you?

What personal strategies do you capitalize on to maintain or promote a balance between your personal and professional life?

What role does your family play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role do your co-workers play in your ability to find a balanced live style?

What role does your coaching staff play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

What role does your supervisor play in your ability to find a balanced life style?

Is your supervisor male or female?

Do they have a family of their own?

What personal strategies do you utilize to sustain your professional enthusiasm?

Has this changed since you started a family?

Describe for me how your work setting has influenced your professional commitment.

Have you had a role model/mentor, who has helped you grow professionally? Please elaborate [why, what role they played, etc.].

In your opinion could having more female role models [those who remain in the profession with children] influence retention rates for other female athletic trainers? Please explain.