Retention = the percentage of employees a business or program keeps over a specific time period
Attrition = the percentage of employees lost who were not replaced
So in athletic training, retention refers to the students who remain in their program until graduation and continue on into athletic training (from the educational view) and athletic trainers who remain athletic trainers, renewing their certifications (from the clinical view). Attrition on the other hand refers to the students and athletic trainers who leave the profession entirely. For example, students who decide to pursue PA or PT school instead of becoming an athletic trainer, or athletic trainers who quit and begin new careers in a different field.
There seems to be 2 groups of athletic trainers who more commonly face struggles which may lead them to quit the profession; females and secondary school athletic trainers. In both of these subgroups, a common theme can be seen which likely contributes to this desire to leave the profession; work-family strain.
A very common topic of conversation for females in athletic training is how to balance having a child, and motherhood while working the long, shifting hours of athletic training. The long, sometimes random hours and travel requirements make it difficult for any athletic trainer to make important life events (weddings, funerals, birthdays etc.). Those who have a family, especially young children, have more events they may want to attend to support their child, or may feel increased guilt from spending long periods of time away from their child.
Secondary school athletic trainers face a similar instance of work-family strain. Secondary school athletic trainers often work evening hours, since practices and games are after school hours. In my current job, there would be football game days where I wouldn't get home until 12/1 am. I am young, single and have no family, so this doesn't really bother me. Those who do have a family may have concerns with this though, missing their child's games or events to cover events at work, missing dinner with the family because they have to eat at work etc.
There are 3 main factors that contribute to the feeling of successful work-family balance: organizational, individual and sociocultural. Organizational factors include work hours, schedules and job dynamics such as travel, flexibility and face time. (1) Individual factors are dependent on a person's values, beliefs and preferences regarding work, home and lifestyle. Essentially this is how well the individuals job and responsibilities align with their priorities and values. Finally, Sociocultural factors relate to the social meanings of work and family. (1) Stereotypically, women were thought to choose family over work or struggled more to balance demands from work and family due to a perceived feeling of responsibility for both domestic and work needs. (1) Overall, literature into work-life balance and retention in athletic training consistently emphasize the necessity of an employment setting that fosters a family-friendly environment and work schedule which allows for time at home. (2)
While I choose to speak mainly on females and secondary school athletic trainers, they are not the only ones moving on from the profession. Several factors that I spoke on more in depth in my blogs about work life balance and emotional intelligence can affect many individuals in various settings. An individual's reason for leaving is highly dependent on those individual and sociocultural factors that they find important and how well their work place allows them to acknowledge those factors. Some of the most common over arching issues those who leave have with AT include: Lack of salary to support large workload (60+ hour weeks), "who you know" atmosphere creating a lack of trust in the profession and education pathway (only accepting people who have years of experience in that specific field, not posting jobs publicly etc.), and the general toxic culture that athletic training can have (people getting chastised on twitter for asking a question/for new ideas).
While the profession is still new, its growing and adapting constantly, and hopefully with its growth more job settings will create environments that are family friendly and foster work-life balance for all.
(1) Mazerolle SM, Pitney WA, Goodman A, et al. National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: facilitating work-life balance in athletic training practice settings. Journal of athletic training. 2018;53(8):796-811.
(2) Mazerolle SM, Gavin K. Female athletic training students' perceptions of motherhood and retention in athletic training. Journal of athletic training. 2013;48(5):678-684.
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