Competitiveness And Past Nondisclosure Decreases Future Concussion Reporting Intention Among Males In High-Contact Sports

Abstract Objective With some variability, research indicates that a high percentage (20–60%) of athletes do not report post-concussion symptoms, despite having sufficient concussion knowledge. Our study examined whether competitiveness and past reporting predicted future reporting intention in males participating in high contact sports. Method Participants included 92 male athletes (M = 19.35 years, SD = 4.35) recruited from a mid-sized Canadian city participating in high contact sports (American football, rugby, or hockey). Competitiveness was measured using the Sport Orientation Questionnaire. The Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey-Student Version was used to assess concussion knowledge and nondisclosure. Logistic regression was conducted to predict future intention of playing despite experiencing post-concussion symptoms. Age, knowledge, competitiveness, sport, and past history of concussion nondisclosure were included as predictors. Results Age, sport, and concussion knowledge were not significant predictors. Competitiveness was a significant predictor for the model, such that higher competitiveness predicted less likelihood to report post-concussion symptoms. Our findings also suggest that athletes who have not disclosed a concussion in the past are more likely to have higher intention to continue to play with symptoms of a concussion in the future. Over half (54%) of the athletes reported past history of concussion nondisclosure. Conclusions Interventions focusing on increasing general concussion knowledge are not adequate to prevent symptom nondisclosure. The results suggest that highly competitive athletes or athletes with a past history of nondisclosure are most vulnerable to future nondisclosure. These findings could help improve future interventions by targeting athletes at high-risk of concussion nondisclosure.