Athletes who have recovered from an injury: A study on coping mechanisms

This paper is a study on the coping mechanisms that help injured athletes in their rehabilitation process. The aspects and factors that are related to the recovery process of the athlete from the injury sustained were considered. Thirty (30) respondents were the subjects for the study. These thirty (30) athletes were interviewed using an interview guide. To further understand the needs and coping mechanisms of the athletes, four (4) cases studies were also included. Results indicate three (3) coping resources that an athlete may use to aid him in his rehabilitation process. First is the cognitive factor which deals with the disposition of the respondent. Athletes with minor injuries were more likely to have a positive outlook on dealing with the injury while athletes with major injuries may either be positive or negative. The second is the physiological aspect which covers the different methods in treating different types of injury while the third is the social support aspect which umbrellas support systems such as family members and teammates. Lastly, the study found out that the coping mechanisms that are utilized by injured athletes do not particularly correlate with the athlete\u27s demography however these coping mechanisms are influenced by the severity of the injury, whether major or minor