Psychological predictors of injuries in circus artists: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between potential psychological risk factors and injury risk in circus artists.


METHODS
Historical cohort study.


METHODS
Cirque du Soleil training programme.


METHODS
Forty-seven circus artists training to become Cirque du Soleil artists.


METHODS
Artists completed the validated REST-Q questionnaire (19 domains) during their first 2 weeks of training.


RESULTS
Injury risk ratio.


RESULTS
Of the five a priori exposures of interest, injury, emotional exhaustion, self-efficacy and fatigue were associated with an increase in injury risk (risk ratios between 1.8 and 2.8), but Conflicts/Pressure was not (risk ratio=0.8). Of the several specific psychological aspects that are considered risk factors for injury, low self-efficacy had the strongest relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the strong psychological risk factors for injuries previously identified in athletes also appear to be risk factors in circus artists.
McGill University, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. ian.shrier@mcgill.ca
Ian
I
Shrier
Madeleine
M
Hallé
D001154:Art; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology