Sport-related concussion disclosure in women's rugby—A social identity approach

Lisa Ryan, Ed Daly, Alexander D. Blackett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a risk of collision sports such as women's rugby. To support appropriate SRC diagnosis and management, an understanding of the factors that encourage SRC disclosure is necessary. To date, research has focused on ascertaining individual player knowledge and attitudes towards SRC disclosure. Methods: We chose to investigate the potential influence of group identification effects by examining the role of social identity on SRC disclosure in elite women's rugby. Seventeen elite players from the United Kingdom and Ireland were interviewed and their transcripts thematically analysed. Results: The data highlighted that the players shared a very strong social identity as women in rugby and were acutely aware that their experiences were different to their male counterparts. The shared social identity had both positive and negative implications for SRC disclosure. The players interviewed did not feel comfortable disclosing their symptoms to their coach and often felt that medical staff either did not listen to them or were unavailable to them. Mediators such as communication, trust in medical teams, perceived pressure, positive injury management experience, and player role models were identified. Discussion: This research could be utilised to inform sport psychology interventions to enhance SRC disclosure in elite women's rugby.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1058305
JournalFrontiers in Sports and Active Living
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • brain injury
  • rugby union
  • social identity
  • sport-related concussion
  • women's rugby

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