Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Johnson, Andrew M.

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of rapid and tumultuous development in the physical, cognitive and psychosocial domains. Sustaining a concussion during this time period may complicate this development, particularly when symptoms are prolonged. Of particular importance is the study of adolescent females, as this population has been under-evaluated within the literature. This is especially troubling due to the number of concussions that occur among adolescent females, as concussions within this population reportedly occur at twice the frequency of adolescent males. This dissertation presents a qualitative case study investigation that explores the recovery experiences of adolescent female athletes who have sustained a concussion and are facing post-concussion syndrome. Six adolescent females (age range, 15-18 years) who sustained a sport-related concussion with symptoms lasting longer than one month (range, 10-18 months) were included. Twelve semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted, followed by two focus groups. Photoelicitation was used as a method of establishing a “language bridge,” such that photographs produced by the participants act as a stimulus and guide within the interviews and focus groups. A conceptual framework emerged where recovery was conceptualized in terms of symptom burden, activity changes and restrictions, and both emotional and psychosocial sequelae. The risk of long-term consequences was explored in the context of pre-injury susceptibility and post-injury resilience. There is a discussion of mental and emotional well-being during adolescence, with the presentation of the role of occupational therapists and multidisciplinary care teams as a “support buffer” during recovery.

Summary for Lay Audience

A concussion is a complex brain injury. There is an abundance of research surrounding the identification of concussion, but what is often left out is the holistic or “whole person” assessment of concussion recovery. Current post-concussion monitoring scales (i.e., Post Concussion Symptom Scale) address the physical symptoms of concussion, but there is little information and monitoring of one’s mental, emotional and social well-being. This research project aims to explore concussion recovery experiences from a “whole person” perspective. The population of interest was adolescent females. Adolescent females are underrepresented in the research literature. This is problematic because, they sustain more concussions and their recoveries are said to be longer (as compared to adolescent males). This dissertation presents a qualitative case study investigation that explores the recovery experiences of adolescent female athletes who have sustained a concussion and are facing persistent symptoms. Six adolescent females (age range, 15-18 years) who sustained a sport-related concussion with symptoms lasting longer than one month (range, 10-18 months) were included. Twelve semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted, followed by two focus groups. Photoelicitation was used as a method of establishing a “language bridge,” such that photographs produced by the participants act as a stimulus and guide within the interviews and focus groups. A conceptual framework emerged where recovery was conceptualized in terms of symptom burden, activity changes and restrictions, and both emotional and psychosocial sequelae. The risk of long-term consequences was explored in the context of pre-injury susceptibility and post-injury resilience. There is a discussion of mental and emotional well-being during adolescence, with the presentation of the role of occupational therapists and multidisciplinary care teams as a “support buffer” during recovery.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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