Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Barriers And Opportunities For Concussion Communication And Management In Youth Sports: A Qualitative Study, Kelly Sarmiento, Zoe Donnell, Elizabeth Bell, Rosanne Hoffman

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

To identify opportunities to improve coach-athlete communication, this study examined young athletes’ perceptions and concerns about concussion, as well as their information needs. A qualitative data collection approach, based on the grounded theory methodology, was utilized. Six virtual focus groups were conducted with 17 male and female athletes’ ages 12 to 18 years. Results indicated that athletes were concerned about the potential long-term effects of a concussion. Athletes described multiple barriers that interfere with concussion reporting, including: being unfamiliar with concussion signs and symptoms, perceived pressure from teammates, concerns of interference that concussion reporting can have on gameplay, and a …