Final answer:
The high divorce rate among professional athletes may be due to pressures such as public visibility, travel, short careers, and the cyclical pattern of divorce. Financial stress is less of a factor for athletes compared to other professions with high divorce rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The high divorce rate among professional athletes could be attributed to a multitude of stress factors, and not necessarily financial stress as in other professions with high divorce rates. Athletes often face unique pressures such as high public visibility, frequent travel, and a short career span, all of which can strain personal relationships. In addition to this, the cyclical nature of divorce suggests that if an athlete comes from a background of divorced parents, they might be more likely to experience divorce themselves. In contrast to the professions mentioned in the Radford University study, where financial instability contributes to higher divorce rates, professional athletes often have significant income but also a lifestyle that can be demanding on marriages.