Predicting Concussion Symptoms: The Impact of Pre-Injury Risk Factors on Post-Concussion Symptom Severity in Football Players

• Author / Creator

  White, Ryan

• This thesis explores how pre-existing mental health factors—anxiety, depression, concussion history, learning disorders, and ADHD—affect post-concussion outcomes in Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes. The study addresses a gap in the literature by investigating whether baseline mental health risks predict post-concussion symptom severity, offering insights for improved concussion management and athlete welfare. Using a longitudinal repeated measures design, baseline data from 793 CFL athletes, collected during 2017-2018 pre-season medical evaluations, were analyzed. Participants completed SCAT3 and BSI-18 assessments to measure concussion history and mental health variables. Pearson correlations, t-tests, and stepwise regression analyses assessed relationships between pre-injury mental health factors and post-concussion outcomes. Results showed significant increases in somatization and depression post-concussion, while anxiety remained stable. SCAT symptom severity emerged as a key predictor of post-injury psychological outcomes, with pre-injury anxiety and somatization influencing post-injury anxiety. These findings underscore the importance of assessing baseline mental health to better manage post-concussion symptoms and guide personalized interventions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Concussion
  • Concussion Symptoms
  • Risk Factors
  • Symptom Severity
  • Football
  • Mental Health
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Concussion History
  • Canadian Football League
  • CFL
  • SCAT3
  • BSI-18
  • Somatization
  • Athlete Concussion Management
  • Post-Injury Psychological Outcomes
  • Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
  • mTBI
  • Head Trauma
  • Brain Injury
  • Sport-Related Concussion
  • SRC
  • Psychological Well-being
  • Emotional Health
  • Psychosocial Factors
  • Biopsychosocial
  • Fear-Avoidance
  • Avoidant Coping
  • Symptom Avoidance
  • Activity Avoidance
  • Cognitive Appraisal
  • Psychological Interpretation
  • Stress Appraisal
  • Cognitive Assessment of Stress
  • Athletes
  • Competitive Athletes
  • Professional Football Players
  • Negative stress mindset
  • Social support theory
  • The health belief model
  • Fear-avoidance

• Graduation date

  Fall 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-295b-5a60

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.