In light of the growing cultural prominence of sport and the distinct developmental challenges faced by emerging adult (EA) athletes, Emerging Adulthood is dedicating a Special Issue focusing on the psychosocial development of athletes during emerging adulthood. Manuscripts may address a wide range of developmental domains and outcomes, including mental health, identity processes, life transitions, relational dynamics, and contextual influences, and are encouraged to consider the individual and environmental mechanisms that shape athlete development.
All manuscripts must focus on elite athletes navigating the emerging adulthood developmental period and address the unique setting of athletic careers in which EA athletes are nested. Athletes competing at high levels of sport, including but not limited to premier or major professional leagues, professional developmental and minor leagues, and collegiate/quasi-professional athletics, are the primary focus of this Special Issue. Recreational, intramural, or lower-intensity sport contexts fall outside the scope of this Special Issue and will not be considered. Submitted articles may include empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), brief reports, review articles, theoretical pieces, and practical/policy proposals or evaluations.
Letters of Intent should include the manuscript title, all authors’ full names and institutional affiliations, and a structured abstract of up to 1,000 words. The abstract must clearly articulate the aims of the proposed submission, the methodological or conceptual approach, and how it aligns with the goals of the Special Issue. Letters of Intent and all inquiries should be submitted by April 15, 2026, to Dr. Ohad Nahum at ohadnahum@gmail.com. Potential contributors whose Letters of Intent are approved will be invited to submit a full manuscript. Please note that all submissions will undergo peer review, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
Full manuscripts (if invited) should be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ead, and should be prepared according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition (APA, 2019). In the cover letter, make sure to state that the manuscript is being submitted for the Emerging Adult Athlete Special Issue, and in the submission portal, select the Emerging Adult Athlete Special Issue option. For additional information, please refer to the journal’s submission guidelines at /author-instructions/EAX or contact Emerging Adulthood Editor Christine McCauley Ohannessian at christine.ohannessian@gmail.com.
For the invited manuscripts, the submission deadline will be December 1, 2026 (although earlier submission is encouraged). Manuscripts submitted for this Special Issue will undergo the standard peer review process. Of note, submitting authors may be asked to serve as reviewers for this Special Issue.
