Abstract
This article aimed to identify the terms used in studies to refer to the process of changing country/region for reasons related to sports practice. It also aimed to understand the studied impacts concerning the process of adaptation of the individual to a new context due to sports practice. A systematic review on the PsycNET, Web of Science and Scielo databases was conducted from the descriptors: Expatriates AND Sport, Acculturation AND Sport, Migratory Transition AND Sport and Migrants AND Sport. After applying a filter based on criteria of inclusion and exclusion related to the objectives of the review, we identified nine articles. It was observed that there is not a single term to define the transition of athletes between cultures, identifying terms such as: migratory transition, migration, acculturation. The interest of the studies is to understand how the adaptation process of individuals into a new culture occurs. It was possible to understand that although athletes are motivated by reaching projection in their sports careers, they face challenges such as: adaptation to a new training style; distance from family and childhood friends; and difficulty in effectively communicating with people of the local culture. Athletes undergo situations of isolation and difficulties for establishing relationships, which interferes with their mental health and sports performance.
Expatriate; Acculturation; Migration; Sport
