Sources of stress and the social support from primary providers following a sports-related concussion in high school athletes: An exploratory study

A concussion, often known as an "invisible injury", is a unique type of sports injury where the recovery varies on an individual basis. Many external factors, such as the lack of knowledge regarding diagnosis and a specific treatment, pressures from the external environment (i.e. media, parents, coaches), and the fears associated with the injury (i.e. fear of re-injury, seeking help), can lead to a stressful experience for the injured athlete. The amount, type, and who is providing social support has been found to play a critical role in the athlete's coping ability of dealing with external stressors post-injury. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to gain more information regarding the external sources of stress and the social support experienced by high school athletes who have incurred a sports-related concussion, and, (b) to further understand the relationship between primary providers of social support and the level of stress an athlete experiences from external factors following a sports-related concussion. The survey was administered to 17 high school athletes. Results revealed that high school concussed athletes worried moderately low amounts following their injury. One's immediate family provided the most social support to concussed athletes, while sports-related individuals and healthcare providers provided the least amount of support. In conclusion, there is a weak relationship between stress experienced by athletes and the amount of social support from primary providers.