Parental Perspectives of Work-Family Conflict and Guilt in Collegiate Athletic Trainers: A Descriptive Qualitative Design.

CONTEXT: Work-family guilt has been reported among athletic trainers (ATs) working in the intercollegiate setting; however, it has yet to be fully explored from a descriptive, in-depth perspective. OBJECTIVE: To better understand the experiences of work-family conflict and guilt of intercollegiate ATs who are parents. DESIGN: Descriptive qualitative study. SETTING: Intercollegiate athletics. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twelve collegiate ATs (females = 6, males = 6) participated in the study. All 12 were married (12 ± 7 years) with an average 2 ± 1 children (range = 1-4). The ATs reported working 51 ± 9 hours per week and spending 11 ± 7 hours per week on household duties or chores. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One-on-one interviews were conducted with all participants. An inductive descriptive coding process was used to analyze the data after saturation was met. Peer review and researcher triangulation were completed. RESULTS: Conflict and guilt were discussed as unavoidable given the equally demanding roles of AT and parent. The resulting guilt was bidirectional, as each role is equally important to the AT. The management theme was specifically defined by 3 subthemes: creating a separation between work and parenting roles, the benefits of having a supportive workplace, and the importance of having coworkers and supervisors with shared life experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The ATs experienced work-family conflict and feelings of guilt from their parental responsibilities. The guilt described by the ATs was bidirectional, as they placed high value on both their parenting and athletic training roles. Guilt was balanced and managed by reducing the spillover from the parental role into work or work into time at home. By separating roles and having supportive workplace environments, including coworkers and supervisors who had similar life experiences, ATs felt they were better able to meet work and home demands.

Athletic Trainers' Use of Support Systems for Balancing Roles as an Athletic Trainer and Parent.

CONTEXT: Work-life balance is a topic of interest in the athletic training profession. Particularly for parents, managing work and home roles can be challenging. Social support has been identified as a resource for improving athletic trainers' balance and quality of life and warrants further investigation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the sources and perceptions of social support among athletic trainers with children. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Collegiate and secondary school settings. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two athletic trainers who worked in the collegiate (12) or secondary school (20) setting participated. All individuals (19 females, 13 males) were parents, and they ranged in age from 25 to 72 years, with 2 to 52 years of experience as athletic trainers. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Participants were recruited from a larger cross-sectional survey. A semistructured interview was developed by the research team and reviewed by a peer expert in the field. Respondents completed the interview protocol, which contained questions in numerous areas related to work-life balance. Data analyses were guided by the research questions related to social support and used a phenomenologic approach. We researchers immersed ourselves in the data and engaged in a coding process. Researcher triangulation and peer review were used to establish credibility. RESULTS: Our participants found social support in their work and home lives. Support was described by source (eg, supervisors, coworkers, spouses, family, friends) and type (eg, emotional, tangible, network). Respondents perceived that support stemmed from understanding, flexibility, sharing responsibilities, and shared life experiences, which aided them in balancing their roles. CONCLUSIONS: Athletic trainers valued social support and used different types of support to help create work-life balance. Support in the workplace, at home, and from the profession is necessary for athletic trainers who are parents, as it provides a means to help balance roles and responsibilities.

Collegiate Athletic Trainers' Experiences With Work-Family Conflict and Work-Family Guilt Based Upon Organizational Factors.

CONTEXT: The collegiate athletic setting has been described as having high workloads and working demands. The extensive time commitment required of athletic trainers working in this setting has been identified as a precursor to work-family conflict (WFC) and work-family guilt (WFG). Although individualized, experiences in the work-life interface can largely be affected by organizational factors (ie, elements specific to the workplace). Staff size and patient load may influence the athletic trainer's feelings of WFC and WFG, yet these factors have not been directly studied. OBJECTIVE: To examine organizational factors and experiences of WFC and WFG among collegiate athletic trainers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Collegiate setting. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANT(S): A total of 615 (females = 391, gender variant or nonconforming = 1, males = 222, preferred not to answer = 1) athletic trainers responded to an online survey. The average age of participants was 33 ± 9 years, and they were Board of Certification certified for 10 ± 8 years. A total of 352 participants (57.2%) worked in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, 99 in Division II (16.1%), and 164 in Division III (26.7%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants responded to demographic and workplace characteristic questions (organizational infrastructure, staff size, and number of varsity-level athletic teams). They completed WFC and WFG scales that have been previously validated and used in the athletic trainer population. RESULTS: Work-family conflict and WFG were universally experienced among our participants, with WFC scores predicting WFG scores. Participants reported more time-based conflict than strain- or behavior-based conflict. No differences in WFC and WFG scores were found among organizational infrastructures. Weak positive correlations were present between staff size and WFC scores and WFG scores. The number of athletic teams was not associated with WFC or WFG scores. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational factors are an important component of the work-life interface. From an organizational perspective, focusing on improving work-life balance for the athletic trainer can help mitigate experiences with WFC and WFG.

Work-Family Guilt: The Perspective of Secondary School Athletic Trainers With Children.

CONTEXT: The literature in athletic training has consistently demonstrated evidence of work-family-life conflict and the potential consequences of that conflict among athletic trainers (ATs) employed in the clinical setting. Parental responsibilities have been suggested to increase the conflict among work, family, and life. The emotions that occur because of this conflict have received little attention and warrant further study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate perceptions and antecedents of work-family guilt (WFG) among secondary school ATs with children. DESIGN: Phenomenological qualitative study. SETTING: Secondary schools. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty (13 women, 7 men) ATs with children (range = 1-3) employed in the secondary school setting. All but 3 were married (n = 17) at the time of the study. Their average age was 37 ± 11 years, and they were certified as ATs for 14 ± 11 years. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Participants completed one-on-one semistructured phone interviews. Multiple-analyst triangulation and peer review were used to establish data credibility. RESULTS: General inductive analysis revealed that men and women participants experienced feelings of WFG despite having supportive work environments. The guilt for both sexes stemmed from work interfering with family and an altruistic mindset. Women indicated they felt pressure from their husbands that contributed to feelings of guilt. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary school ATs experienced WFG. Trying to balance parental and athletic training duties can cause an emotional response, and ATs' giving and caring nature may be a precursor to guilt.

Work-Family Conflict of Collegiate and Secondary School Athletic Trainers Who Are Parents.

CONTEXT: The work-life interface has been a much discussed and researched area within athletic training. The National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement on work-life balance highlighted the profession's interest in this topic. However, gaps in the literature remain and include the roles of time-based conflict and social support. OBJECTIVE: To compare work-family conflict (WFC) and social support among athletic trainers (ATs) employed in the 2 most common practice settings. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational survey. SETTING: Collegiate and secondary school settings. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 474 (females = 231, males = 243) ATs who were employed in the collegiate (205, 43.2%) or secondary school (269, 56.8%) setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Data were collected through a Web-based survey designed to measure conflict and social support. Likert responses were summed. Demographic information was analyzed for frequency and distribution. Independent t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were calculated to determine group differences. Linear regression was used to determine if social support predicted WFC. RESULTS: Social provisions and WFC were negatively correlated, and the social provisions score predicted WFC. No WFC differences (P = .778) were found between collegiate and high school ATs even though collegiate ATs worked more hours (63 ± 11) during their busiest seasons compared with those in the high school setting (54 ± 13, P < .001). Similarly, no difference (P = .969) was present between men and women, although men worked more hours. Our participants scored highest on time-based WFC items. CONCLUSIONS: Work-family conflict was experienced globally in 2 of the most common athletic training settings and between sexes. This indicates WFC is universally experienced and therefore needs to be addressed, specifically with a focus on time-based conflict. In addition to time-management strategies, ATs need support from coworkers, peers, and family members.

Demographic Characteristics Among Patients With Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg.

Clinical Scenario: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition related with ischemia of the body's tissue due to increases in intracompartmental pressures, which involves, among other symptoms, pain with exertion. CECS is often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to an ambiguous presentation. Diagnostic accuracy of CECS and subsequent management can be improved when contributing factors are known. Research is lacking on the type of patient most likely to experience CECS, highlighting the need for identification of common demographic characteristics among affected individuals. Clinical Question: What are the common demographic characteristics among patients exhibiting CECS of the lower leg? Summary of Key Findings: Four studies were identified (1 prospective consecutive study, 2 retrospective reviews, and 1 retrospective cohort study) that examined common characteristics among patients with CECS. Conflicting evidence exists on whether CECS is more commonly seen in men or in women. CECS has often been reported in young, active individuals but may present in older populations as well. Soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, competitive running, and speed skating have been associated with an increased likelihood of CECS development. Clinical Bottom Line: Current evidence has identified commonalities in sex, age, and sport participation as characteristics often present among individuals experiencing lower leg CECS. Other factors, such as overuse, trauma, diabetes, and gait mechanics, have also been identified in association with CECS. Further data through future prospective studies will help confirm the type of patient mostly likely to experience CECS. Strength of Recommendation: Grade B evidence exists that certain sex, age, and sport participation demographic characteristics are common among patients with CECS of the lower leg.