Navigating the Invisible: Elite Athletes’ Experience of Sports-Related Concussions

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Kintzel, Franziska

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Robertson, Sharon

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Zwiers, Michael
• Bridel, William

• Educational Psychology
• Education--Guidance and Counseling
• Education--Health
• Anthropology--Physical
• Mental Health
• Rehabilitation and Therapy

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27064

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/4188