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

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.