Date of Graduation

5-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Elbin, Robert J.

Committee Member

McDermott, Brendon P.

Second Committee Member

Washington, Tyrone A.

Third Committee Member

Kontos, Anthony

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences; Concussion; Fear of re-injury; Youth

Abstract

Recent consensus statements have advocated for research on the emotional sequelae that is associated with sport-related concussion (McCrory et al., 2012). However, changes in fear of re-injury throughout SRC recovery are understudied. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to describe fear of re-injury in high school athletes with SRC, and 2) to document changes in fear of re-injury throughout SRC recovery. This study addressed several exploratory questions regarding fear of re-injury in high school athletes with SRC that pertain to identifying predictors of fear of re-injury as well as examining the relationship between fear of re-injury and locus of control and perceptions of recovery in high school athletes with SRC. This study used a prospective, repeated measures research design. A total of twenty-six (20 M/6 F) high school athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 years (M = 15.6, SD= 1.5) with a medically diagnosed concussed were recruited and enrolled in the study. Participants completed the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Levenson Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale, and rated perceived recovery at four time points throughout concussion recovery (1 – 7 days post-injury, start of return to play (RTP), RTP, at least one week after RTP). The main finding of this study was that high school athletes experienced varying degrees of fear of re-injury following SRC. There was an observed significant negative relationship between total TSK scores and external locus of control scores 1 -7 days post-injury (r = .46, n = 26, p = .03). In addition, a significant relationship was observed at 1 -7 days post-injury total TSK scores and self-reported percent back to normal during the first week following injury (r = -.79, n = 26, p = .01)These findings provide preliminary support for the need to further investigate fear of re-injury and length of recovery in athletes following concussion.

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