Navigating the Invisible: Elite Athletes’ Experience of Sports-Related Concussions
Abstract
Sports-related concussions and their impact on athletes have been recognized as a pressing concern, as their hidden severity is often underestimated. Despite extensive research on the neurocognitive impact of sports-related concussions, little has been done in terms of understanding athletes’ sense-making of their experiences with and adjustment to such injuries. In this study, I examined how elite athletes made sense of their lived experiences following a sports-related concussion, how they coped, and what they found helpful or hindering during their recovery. Semi-structured interviews with six former elite athletes were conducted and analyzed by utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four overarching themes emerged: (a) The Context of Sports Culture, (b) The Impact of Concussion, (c) Navigating the Injury, and (d) Transitioning. Findings are discussed in the context of relevant scholarly literature, and implications are presented for counselling professionals and educators, as well as future research.
Description
Keywords
Educational Psychology, Education--Guidance and Counseling, Education--Health, Anthropology--Physical, Mental Health, Rehabilitation and Therapy
Citation
Kintzel, F. (2017). Navigating the Invisible: Elite Athletes’ Experience of Sports-Related Concussions (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27064