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Szabo Dissertation.pdf (306.47 KB)

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Perceived Risk for Concussions in College Football Players

Szabo Miller, Ashley Jenette
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1374014349

Abstract Details

2013, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Sports-related concussions have been a topic of growing interest in the popular media and the field of clinical neuropsychology since the late 1980s (Barth, Broshek, & Freeman, 2006). Concussions, also known as mild traumatic brain injuries, are defined as traumatically induced, typically reversible impairment of neurological function. Approximately 210,000 reported sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the United States, which accounts for approximately 5% of all nonfatal injuries related to sports and recreation reported to emergency departments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). As this number is based on reported concussions involving loss of consciousness, the actual number of sports-related concussions is likely closer to 1.6 to 3.8 million (Langlois, Rutland-Brown & Wald, 2006). No research exists to date on athletes’ perception of risk for concussions. Risk perception is related to health behaviors in many other populations, thus possibly offering an explanation for the lack of accurate concussion reporting in athletes. The current study examined factors that may influence perceived risk of concussion in college football players, including knowledge of concussion symptoms, experience with concussions, emotional and mental health, and executive functioning. In order to examine these factors, a questionnaire was given to Kent State University college football players when they underwent baseline cognitive testing as part of the Athletic Department’s concussion program. The questionnaire examined risk perception, worry about concussions, knowledge of concussion symptoms, and previous concussion experience. This information was combined with information from cognitive testing to test the relationship between each factor and an individual’s perception of their risk for a concussion. The football players believed themselves to be at lower risk than their teammates. However, their estimate of their own risk was found to be significantly higher than their actual risk of suffering a concussion. Their own risk perception (“Self Risk”) was significantly correlated with worry about concussions (r = 0.58, p < .001), which significantly predicted Self Risk in a linear regression. A comparison variable between the players’ own risk perception and their perception of others’ risk (“Comparison Risk”) was significantly correlated with a measure of executive functioning (r = -0.29, p = 0.01), which significantly predicted Comparison Risk perception in a linear regression. To clarify these findings, players were divided into positions identified as being high or low risk for concussion. Self Risk was significantly correlated with greater worry about concussions (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), nervousness (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) and feelings of being slowed down (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) in low risk players. For high risk players, Self Risk was significantly correlated with worry about concussions (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Separate linear regressions were run for each risk level group and worry about concussions significantly predicted risk perception for both groups. Overall, football players overestimated their own risk for concussions. Worry about concussions was found to have the strongest relationship with risk perception, as more worry is associated with higher levels of perceived risk. This finding is in line with previous research that has demonstrated that the more people worry the less optimistic they are (Weinstein, 1982). Further studies should clarify the directionality of this relationship and examine the possible benefit of education programs on concussions for athletes.
John Gunstad (Advisor)
John Dunlosky (Committee Member)
Janis Crowther (Committee Member)
Ellen Glickman (Committee Member)
79 p.
Psychology
Concussions; Neuropsychology; Psychology; Football players; College athletes

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Szabo Miller, A. J. (2013). Perceived Risk for Concussions in College Football Players [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1374014349

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Szabo Miller, Ashley. Perceived Risk for Concussions in College Football Players. 2013. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1374014349.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Szabo Miller, Ashley. "Perceived Risk for Concussions in College Football Players." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1374014349

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1374014349
1,079
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.