The role of self-efficacy, social norms, involvement, and comics in promoting parent-child sport-related concussion communication in youth sports

This dissertation examined factors influencing parent-child communication about sport-related concussions (SRCs). Through the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB), this study aimed to expand the theory by the use of self-efficacy as a moderator, implement its usage for private communication behaviors, and introduce the TNSB within the SRC literature. Using a 2 by 2 experimental design, 311 U.S. parents of youth athletes (ages 8–12) viewed comics modeling parent-child SRC discussions, manipulating self-efficacy (positive/negative) and descriptive norms (high/low prevalence). Comics portraying confident parental communication increased self-efficacy, demonstrating their utility as a novel tool for health education. In contrast, normative cues regarding the prevalence of SRC communication among parents did not alter parent’s perceived norms. While descriptive norms (perceptions of others’ behaviors) directly predicted communication intentions, a majority of the normative mechanisms from the TNSB did not moderate this relationship. Contrary to hypotheses, self-efficacy did not moderate the norm-intention link but emerged as a critical mediator. Moderated mediation analyses revealed impression-relevant involvement (IRI) amplified norms’ effect on self-efficacy, while outcome-relevant involvement (ORI) diminished self-efficacy’s impact on intentions. This dissertation demonstrates that parents’ IRI and ORI) shape the pathway from descriptive norms to communication intentions through self-efficacy in distinct and opposing ways. Findings advocate for comics to model effective communication and underscore self-efficacy’s role in bridging norms and action. This study offers practical strategies for concussion education and emphasizes tailored interventions addressing parental priorities of balancing children’s health with ‘winning at all costs’ to promote safety in youth sports.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hartman, Daniel E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Quick, Brian
• Bigsby, Elisabeth
• Thompson, Charee
• Glowacki, Elizabeth

• concussions
• social norms
• involvement
• youth sports
• self-efficacy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Daniel Hartman

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129465

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129465