Journal article
Social support patterns of collegiate athletes before and after injury
Journal of Athletic Training, Vol.45(4), pp.372-379
2010
Abstract
Context: Social support has been identified as an important factor in facilitating recovery from injury. However, no previous study has prospectively assessed the change in social support patterns before and after injury. Objective: To examine the pre- and post-injury social support patterns among male and female collegiate athletes. Design: A prospective design with repeated measures. Injury incidence was identified using the Sports Injury Monitoring System (SIMS). Data on pre- and post-injury social support patterns were compared. Setting: The study was conducted at one Big Ten Conference university. Patient or other participants: A total of 256 Division I male and female collegiate athletes age 18 or older from 13 sports teams were included. Data collection and analysis: Data were collected between September 1, 2005 and April 30, 2006. Social support was measured using the 6-item Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ6). Gender differences in athletes' sources of and satisfaction with social support before and after injury were assessed, using a McNemar's test and paired t-test, respectively. Results: Male athletes reported more sources of social support than female athletes, while female athletes had a greater satisfaction with the support they received. Athletes' social support patterns changed after they became injured. Injured athletes reported relying more on coaches (p = .003), physicians (p = .003), and athletic trainers (p < .0001) for social support after they became injured. Athletes also reported significantly greater post-injury satisfaction with social support received from friends (p = .019), coaches (p = .001), physicians (p = .003), and athletic trainers (p & .0001). Conclusions: Our findings identify an urgent need to better define the psychosocial needs of injured athletes, and also strongly suggest that athletic trainers have a critical role in meeting these needs.
Details
- Title
- Social support patterns of collegiate athletes before and after injury
- Authors
- J Z Yang (Author) - University of Iowa, United StatesC Peek-Asa (Author) - University of Iowa, United StatesJohn B Lowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationE Heiden (Author) - University of Iowa, United StatesD T Foster (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
- Publication details
- Journal of Athletic Training, Vol.45(4), pp.372-379
- Publisher
- National Athletic Trainers Association, Inc.
- Date published
- 2010
- DOI
- 10.4085/1062-6050-45.4.372
- ISSN
- 1062-6050
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2010 National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc. Reproduced here with kind permission of the copyright holder.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449761502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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