Adolescent Athletes’ Perspectives on the Social Implications of Sport-Related Concussion

Purpose: Sport-related concussion can affect many domains of a patient’s health status. Social functioning is an important consideration, especially for adolescent athletes. Our purpose was to explore athletes’ social perspectives regarding sport and concussion. Methods: Using qualitative study design we interviewed 12 interscholastic athletes who had sustained sport-related The interviews focused on injury details, explored the physical, psychosocial, emotional, spiritual components health. Themes categories were identified using consensual research process by three-person team. A comprehensive codebook that captured main themes resulted. Results: Following concussion, participants discussed two primary themes: perceptions aspects their Specific related included: friendships family decision participate based peers. included uncertainty diagnosis, others injury, being ashamed parent peer roles, communication expectation about Conclusions: Participation in removal from following have significant implications Specifically, peers, parents/guardians, influence reporting symptoms recovery Limited expectations post-concussion may cause undue pressures return activity prematurely. Providing supportive environment which patients recover while engaging with peers teammates important. Anticipatory guidance, education possible signs symptoms, risk factors pre- post-injury, are include post-injury management should be known all stakeholders.