Relationship of athletic and academic identity to concussion reporting intentions

Exploring the impact of athletic identity on gender role conflict and athlete injury fear avoidance in male English professional academy football players

Men's academy football can encourage a commitment to the athletic role and masculine norms. When injured, the ability to fulfil an athletic masculine identity is threatened and athletes may experience injury fear-avoidance behaviours as part of a negative injury appraisal. The aim of the study was to explore whether higher athletic identity (AI) was associated with higher gender role conflict and injury-related fear-avoidance. Seventy-two male English academy footballers completed an Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS), and Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ) based on self-reported historical injuries. Correlational analyses were conducted for all variables, and a one-way ANOVA was used to compare high, moderate, and low AI. AIMS was significantly positively correlated with two GRCS subscales: success, power, and competition (SPC) and restricted affectionate behaviour between men (RAM). AIMS exclusivity also positively correlated with SPC and AIMS negative affectivity positively correlated with GRCS total and RAM. Additionally, the current study showed that high and moderate levels of AI had significantly higher levels of total GRCS than those with low AI. No significant results were found for AIMS, GRCS, and AFAQ. Results suggest that players with higher and more exclusive AI may be susceptible to masculine role conflicts, specifically, SPC and RAM, especially when there is a risk to their athletic role. The current study informs sport and health professionals of the need to monitor AI and masculine conformity in academy-level footballers to minimise gender-role conflict and potential maladaptive rehabilitation responses when their identities are threatened.

Development and validation of the Ukrainian version of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-UA)

The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale - Ukrainian Version (AAIS-UA). This scale comprises 11 items designed to measure academic identity and athletic identity in college students participating in sports. The translation process involved a committee approach with two proficient scholars who are native to Ukraine and skilled in both Ukrainian and English languages. The validity and reliability of the AAIS-UA were examined using two datasets with a total of 268 collegiate student-athletes in Ukraine. The results demonstrated the validity and reliability of the AAIS-UA, indicating its usefulness as a valid and reliable tool for assessing academic and athletic identity among Ukrainian-speaking adults.•Student-athletes face responsibility of being a successful student and a successful athlete, which often results in strong identities in both domains. Given the need for a reliable tool to assess academic and athletic identity in the Ukrainian language, this study focused on translating and validating the Ukrainian Version of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-UA).•The Academic and Athletic Identity Scale - Ukrainian Version (AAIS-UA) consists of 11 items, with five items designed to measure academic identity and six items designed to measure athletic identity.•The AAIS-UA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing academic identity, athletic identity, or both among college students and/or athletes who are proficient in the Ukrainian language.

Concussion injury management, perception, and knowledge in amateur field hockey

Background

Field hockey has a high risk for sports-related concussion (SRC) injuries due to the speed and intensity of the game, current rules, field surfaces and equipment composition. Head injuries are the second most common reported injury and up to 75% of SRCs go unreported or undetected. This increases the subsequent injury risk, long-term health consequences and prolonged injury recovery.

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of SRC in hockey players within the Southern Gauteng Hockey Association (SGHA) premier league. Concussion knowledge and attitudes of hockey players, coaches, umpires, and officials were also investigated.

Methods

A partially mixed sequential dominant status design (QUANT-qual) was used, divided into two phases. In Phase One hockey players, coaches, umpires, and technical officials (n=119) completed a modified RoCKAS-ST questionnaire. In Phase Two, a focus group discussion with umpires (n=3) and interviews with coaches (n=3) were conducted.

Results

Injuries to the shoulder, neck, head, and face were reported from stick use (n=98); ball use (n=102) and collisions (n=187). Only 19% of hockey players were diagnosed with SRC, indicating that many of these injuries were undetected or not reported. Responses from the focus group discussion and interviews indicated that coaches, umpires, and officials felt they had insufficient knowledge of SRC.

Conclusion

The recognition and management of on-field injuries require improvement to enhance the injury detection system.

Application of Theory for Those With Sport-Related Concussion: Understanding the Effect of Athletic Identity on Health Outcomes

Athletic identity is a psychological factor of concern for athletes after sport-related concussion (SRC). The integrated model of response to sport injury includes athletic identity as a psychological factor within its model, but it has often been overlooked as a consideration affecting outcomes of SRC. In this review, we applied the integrated model of response to sport injury to the current available evidence about the negative consequences of a stronger athletic identity on health outcomes after SRC. Theory-based research recommendations will be provided to facilitate research in this area. Recommendations for athletic training clinical practice to assess and consider athletic identity as part of routine clinical care for those after SRC will also be discussed.

Uses of Health Care System Medical Care Services by Athletes After Injury at the High School Level

BACKGROUND

Health care utilization can vary by age group, geographic location, and socioeconomic status (SES). A paucity of information exists regarding the availability and utilization of medical care by injured scholastic athletes. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare injuries and health care service utilization by school SES over an academic year.

METHODS

Injury and health care service data was collected from 1 large school district. Percentage of free and reduced lunch (FRPL) for each school was calculated to stratify schools into high (<50% FRPL) and low (≥50.1% FRPL) SES groups. Incidence proportion and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

About 1756 injuries were reported among over 7000 participating athletes from 14 high schools. Similar injury incidence proportions were reported between high and low SES schools (RR = 1.10 [1.00-1.20]). Athletes from low SES schools were twice (RR = 2.01 [1.21-3.35]) and over three (RR = 3.42 [1.84-6.55]) times more likely to receive emergency and physical therapy care. SES was not associated with the use of physician, imaging, or surgery services.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH, POLICY, AND EQUITY

School medical providers and administrators should have ready and provide a list of trusted outside primary care and specialty providers that have experience in sports medicine. They should also enquire and follow up on which outside provider the high school athlete will seek care when referring out to outside providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Injury incidence was similar between high and low SES schools. However, athletes from low SES high schools were over 2-fold more likely to use emergency department services. Understanding factors influencing health care services choice and usage by student athletes from different socioeconomic backgrounds may assist sport medicine clinicians in identifying barriers and potential solutions in improving time to health restoration, athlete outcomes, and health care monetary burden.

Stressed and Distressed: Potential Underpinnings of Exercise-Related Inspiratory Distress in Adolescent Sport Performers

Many adolescent sport performers present with exercise-related respiratory symptoms consistent with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). The pathogenic underpinnings of EILO are not fully resolved, and existing behavioral management includes therapies targeting laryngeal physiology whereas surgical interventions target laryngeal anatomical anomalies. Recent findings from research and clinical practice indicate that psychological stress and thoracic breathing co-occur with laryngeal tightness in adolescent sport performers with EILO. This Perspective article theorizes on this potential coexistence. It discusses possible underpinnings of respiratory symptoms (including EILO) and thoracic breathing in adolescent sport performers by considering the effects of various stressors to which adolescent sport performers are exposed, and the impact these may have on the breathing, including in terms of laryngeal narrowing. The effect of stress on the breathing is examined in light of the reciprocal communication between the brain and the body and the relationship between psychological stress and stress responses in the respiratory system mediated by the autonomic nervous system. To inform decision-making and clinical awareness in this area, it may be worth expanding the focus from targeting mainly laryngeal structures to also include constrictions of the airways and the effects of thoracic breathing on the larynx during exercise. The importance of considering respiratory distress from a multidimensional perspective, and of incorporating the complexity of sport performers' psychological and physical experiences in the management of their health and well-being, is emphasized.

IMPACT

This Perspective adds to the understanding of respiratory distress in populations other than adults, which is important and necessary.

LAY SUMMARY

Adolescent sport performers are exposed to a number of stressors that may affect breathing and laryngeal narrowing, which in turn may have implications for the management of their overall health and well-being.

Improving concussion education: consensus from the NCAA-Department of Defense Mind Matters Research & Education Grand Challenge

Early disclosure of possible concussive symptoms has the potential to improve concussion-related clinical outcomes. The objective of the present consensus process was to provide useful and feasible recommendations for collegiate athletic departments and military service academy leaders about how to increase concussion symptom disclosure in their setting. Consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi process. Participants in the consensus process were grant awardees from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Department of Defense Mind Matters Research & Education Grand Challenge and a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders from collegiate athletics and military service academies. The process included a combination of in-person meetings and anonymous online voting on iteratively modified recommendations for approaches to improve concussion symptom disclosure. Recommendations were rated in terms of their utility and feasibility in collegiate athletic and military service academy settings with a priori thresholds for retaining, discarding and revising statements. A total of 17 recommendations met thresholds for utility and feasibility and are grouped for discussion in five domains: (1) content of concussion education for athletes and military service academy cadets, (2) dissemination and implementation of concussion education for athletes and military service academy cadets, (3) other stakeholder concussion education, (4) team and unit-level processes and (5) organisational processes. Collectively, these recommendations provide a path forward for athletics departments and military service academies in terms of the behavioural health supports and institutional processes that are needed to increase early and honest disclosure of concussion symptoms and ultimately to improve clinical care outcomes.