UNDERSTANDING CONCUSSION REPORTING BEHAVIORS OF YOUNG ADULT ATHLETES WHEN THE CONCUSSION IS NON-SPORT-RELATED

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that largely depend on an individual’s symptom reporting to diagnose. Roughly fifty percent of athletes do not disclose concussion symptoms putting them at risk for further injury and long-term cognitive impairments. Researchers have historically focused on reporting behaviors among athletes who sustain sport-related concussions. This study aims to investigate the knowledge and reporting behaviors of athletes who experience sport-related and non-sport-related concussions through survey and interviews. The questionnaire was developed using previously validated survey questions and the follow-up interview followed a semi-structured format. It was hypothesized that reporting behaviors would be negatively impacted for non-sport-related compared to sport-related concussions. Statistical analyses evaluated differences in reporting experience, intention to report, perceived control, and concussion knowledge between sport-related and non-sport-related concussions. The primary study findings demonstrated no significant differences in reporting outcomes between those who experienced a sport-related concussion, non-sport-related concussion, or no concussions.Master of Art