Chapter 5 The Psychology of Injury

Personality Variables Personality-defined as “stable, enduring qualities of the individual.” Personality characteristics that are related to sports injuries include: **(ex: aggressive vs passive, introverted vs extroverted) **-a general disposition or tendency to perceive certain situations as threatening and to react with an anxiety response

Personality Characteristics Cont. Locus of Control – people’s belief, or lack thereof, of being in control of events occurring in their lives **: feel they have very little control over events in their life Believe factors such as fate, destiny, or luck determine life events **: feel they are responsible for what happens to them They are in charge of their own life

Personality Characteristics Cont. Self Concept – an individual’s perception of “self” Low self-concept functions as a significant risk factor for athletic injury Less able to deal effectively with the stress of competition, and this inability may lead to behavior that will result in injury Being injured may become an attractive alternative to participation because it gives the athlete a legitimate excuse to avoid playing (receive more attention from teammates or coaches than they would normally receive) TSCS – Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (test that identifies athletes will low self-concept)

Seasonal Affective Disorder A psychiatric disorder that affects the general population, including athletes, primarily in the fall and winter seasons Symptoms – loss of physical capacity and energy, increased appetite (craves carbs), hypersomnia (excessive sleep), anhedonia (lack of normal pleasurable activities), and impaired social activity

Psychosocial Variables and Injury Psychosocial variables develop through interaction between individual and a changing social environment. *. A strong relationship exists between negative events and increased injury risk. *

Competitive Stress and Adolescents As more children participate in sports, there are more concerns regarding the psychological impact of competition. * Pressure to win is a concern. Young athletes may be more prone to injury, psychosomatic illness, burnout, and other stress-related problems. *

Psychology of Injury Injury is a psychological stressor (anything that effects the body’s physiological or psychological condition and upsets the homeostatic balance) for athletes. According to Weiss & Troxel: Phase 1 –* Phase 2 – The athlete appraises short- and long-term significance of the injury. (may engage in negative self doubt) Phase 3 – * Final stage – The athlete copes with long-term consequences.

Psychology of the Injured Athlete Recommendations involve: 1.Treating the person, not just the injury. 2.* 3.Keeping in mind the importance of communication skills. 4.Remembering the relationship between physical & psychological skills. 5.*

Eating Disorders Majority of sports have narrow parameters for appropriate body type for athletic success. (Biomechanics) * Media exposure focuses on physical appearance, especially for females. Emphasis on the ideal body has negative effects on the athletic population.

Types of Eating Disorders Anorexia nervosa – self-starvation motivated by obsession with thinness and overwhelming fear of fat; often times have a grossly distorted body image Bulimia nervosa – repeated bouts of binge eating followed by some form of purging ** * Both are forms of eating disorders that are serious psychological problems that are most common among adolescent and young-adult females

Eating Disorders (cont.) Female athletes are more likely to practice pathogenic (unhealthy) dietary habits than males. Rosen et al. found that 32% of athletes practiced some form of pathogenic eating behavior. Little is known about pathogenic eating disorders in male athletes, for example, “making weight” in wrestling. (vomiting, taking diuretics, exercising in rubber suits, etc)

Sport Specificity and Eating Disorders There is a higher incidence of eating disorders in gymnastics, ballet, distance running, diving, and figure skating. * In a gymnastics study (n=215), over 60% reported disordered eating behaviors.

Complications of Eating Disorders Esophageal inflammation * Hormone imbalances * Amenorrhea Electrolyte imbalances * Anxiety

Prevention Placing less emphasis on weight. Avoiding referral to weight in a negative manner. * Avoiding ostracizing an athlete for being overweight. Coaches and parents need to be alert for early warning signs.

Treatment Ranges from counseling and education to hospitalization. May include psychological counseling as eating disorders can be symptoms of severe psychological problems such as depression. One-third of all cases do not respond to therapy.