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Article analysis:

The article "Collective conceptualization of parental support of dual career athletes: The EMPATIA framework" presents a study that aimed to develop a European framework for the needs of parents/guardians (P/G) in supporting athletes combining sport and education. The study used a concept mapping methodology, where 337 French, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, and Slovenian parents sorted and rated 80 potential statements associated with parenting DC athletes.

The results showed five distinct clusters: P/G's roles, needs and awareness to support athletes; requirements for effective planning of DC pathway; educational opportunity; policy and provision for DC; and athletes' lifestyle & self-management. The study also found differences in relation to the P/Gs' gender and the athletes' education level, competition level, and sport typology.

Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the needs of parents/guardians in supporting dual career athletes. However, there are some potential biases in the study that need to be considered. Firstly, the sample size is relatively small as it only includes parents from five European countries. This may limit the generalizability of the findings to other regions or cultures.

Secondly, there is a potential bias towards parents who are already supportive of their children's dual careers as they were more likely to participate in the study. This may result in an overestimation of parental support for dual career athletes.

Thirdly, while the study identified differences based on demographic data such as gender and education level, it did not explore other factors such as socioeconomic status or cultural background that may also influence parental support for dual career athletes.

Finally, while the article mentions an online educational program developed based on the EMPATIA framework (https://edu.empatiasport.eu/eng/), it does not provide any information on its effectiveness or impact on parental support for dual career athletes.

In conclusion, while the article provides valuable insights into parental support for dual career athletes, there are potential biases and limitations that need to be considered. Future research should aim to address these limitations and explore other factors that may influence parental support for dual career athletes.