title: Concussion reporting, sex, and conformity to traditional gender norms in young adults.
abstract: This study assessed whether between-sex differences in concussion reporting intention and behavior among young adults are explained by the extent to which the individual conforms to traditional masculine norms that often characterize contemporary sport culture. A survey of college athletes in the United States (n = 328) found greater symptom reporting intention among females as compared to males, but no difference in their likelihood continued play while experiencing symptoms of a possible concussion. Greater conformity to the norms of risk-taking was associated with greater likelihood of continued play while symptomatic among female athletes but not among male athletes. These findings suggest that gendered behavior, rather than biologically determined sex, is an important consideration for concussion safety in this age group. Addressing elements of the contemporary sport ethos that reinforce risk taking in service of athletic achievement may be a relevant direction for interventions aimed at improving injury reporting among all athletes.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Pediatrics, United States; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, United States. Electronic address: ekroshus@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kroshus
authors.affiliation: Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center, United States; Harvard University, Interfaculty Initiative in Health Policy, United States; Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Sports Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Baugh
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Sports Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, United States; Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: S Bryn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, United States; Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Jerel P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Calzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D066262:Social Norms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: College; Concussion; Gender; Help-seeking; Sport