Concussion-reporting behaviors among high school athletes in Ireland: Applying the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

Background Sport-related concussion is a significant public health issue, especially among children and adolescents. A growing body of evidence suggests that athletes who do not immediately report concussion and continue to play while concussed take longer to recover than their counterparts. Yet, many child and adolescent athletes do not immediately report concussion symptoms to a responsible adult. Aim This study examined the utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in predicting concussion reporting intentions and in-season reporting behaviors among high school, Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) athletes in the Republic of Ireland. Methods High school GAA athletes aged 12-18 years completed surveys at baseline and at three-month follow-up. Concussion-related perceived behavioral control (PBC), attitudes, subjective norms, and reporting intentions were assessed at baseline. In-season concussion reporting behaviors were assessed at three-month follow-up. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between the constructs of the TPB and baseline reporting intentions. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between the constructs of the TPB and in-season reporting behaviors. All data were collected during the 2016–2017 academic year. Results A total of 153 adolescent athletes were included (n = 102 [66.7%] females; Mage = 14.4 years, [SD = 1.6]). Consistent with the TPB, results revealed that PBC and reporting intentions contributed to the prediction of in-season reporting behaviors. Reporting intentions, in turn, were strongly influenced by PBC, attitudes, and subjective norms. PBC was the strongest predictor of concussion reporting intentions and in-season reporting behaviors; the stronger the athletes’ PBC, the stronger their reporting intentions and the more likely they were to have reported concussion symptoms during the current season. Conclusion Although the findings from the current study must be interpreted cautiously given the small sample size, the findings suggest that the TPB has some utility in the prediction of concussion reporting intentions and reporting behaviors. However, our findings suggest that the TPB should not be used in isolation; other models that incorporate personal factors and environmental constraints may be needed to better our understanding of concussion reporting intentions and behaviors among high school athletes. Concussion education programs that include strategies to enhance PBC over concussion reporting may help improve concussion reporting behaviors among high school athletes.