Collegiate student-athlete sex, years of sport eligibility completed, and sport contact level influence on concussion reporting intentions and behaviours.

ABSTRACT

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether sex, years of sport eligibility completed, and sport contact level influenced student-athletes' concussion reporting intentions and behaviours. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Student-athletes (n = 828) reported their sex, years of sport eligibility completed, sport, and completed concussion reporting intentions and behaviours surveys. Nonparametric statistics were conducted to compare intentions and behaviours between groups (alpha = 0.05). MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Females had higher indirect intentions to report concussion than males (p = 0.035), but did not differ in direct intentions (p = 0.258) or behaviours (indirect p = 0.756; direct p = 0.686). Intentions (indirect p = 0.383; direct p = 0.397) and behaviours (indirect p = 0.154; direct p = 0.999) did not differ between years of sport eligibility completed. Limited/non-contact sport student-athletes intended to report more concussions than those in collision/contact sports (indirect p = 0.001; direct p = 0.021), but did not differ in behaviours (indirect p = 0.184; direct p = 0.497). CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that female and limited/non-contact sport student-athletes intended to report more concussions, however differences did not translate to reporting behaviours.