Citation

Wayment HA, Huffman AH. J. Am. Coll. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-6.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological Sciences , WA Franke College of Businesss, Northern Arizona University , Flagstaff , AZ , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2019.1577863

PMID

30908165

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Understand from whom concussed football players seek and receive emotional support, and whether this support is associated with injury perceptions. PARTICIPANTS: Football players (N = 26) from three NCAA Division I programs.

METHODS: With approval from the head athletic trainer, concussed athletes (2017 season) completed short surveys within 4-6 days of diagnosis and when cleared to return.

RESULTS: Concussed athletes perceived their injury as a normal consequence of playing football, not serious, and reported little, if any, depression and anxiety. Athletes reported the most support from athletic trainers; the least from coaches and teammates. Emotional support was associated with fewer adverse psychosocial reactions, more sport-injury related growth, and greater intentions to report future concussion symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Results from this pilot study suggest that emotional support during the concussion recovery process should be understood and fostered by university officials charged with the health and well-being of collegiate football players.

Language: en

Keywords

Athletics; health education; mental health