The End Is Not the Injury: Posttraumatic Growth of Division I Athletes after Season- or Career-Ending Injuries

Background and Purpose. Over the last few years, a group of dedicated social work faculty members, practitioners, advocates, and students started grassroots efforts to lead the integration of social work into all realms of sports. With the growing sub-field of Sport Social Work, social workers are more likely than ever to provide behavioral health services to athletes. One particular area of athletics where social workers could be beneficial is helping athletes cope with athletic injuries. Given the extraordinary rates at which college athletes experience injury it is clear there is urgency behind research focusing on the possibility of growth post injury (Kampman, Hefferon, Wilson, & Beale, 2015).  The overall goal of this research was to explore strategies for helping varsity high school and/or college athletes experience Posttraumatic Growth after suffering a season- or career-ending injury. In particular, this study explored strategies for behavioral health professionals (e.g., sport social workers) to help athletes: (1) relate to others post injury, (2) identify new possibilities for their athletic passion, (3) gain personal strength from the injury, (4) undergo spiritual change, and (5) find appreciation for new life goals.

Methods. This exploratory study used a mixed method design, using both a web-based survey and qualitative focus groups.  To be eligible for participation, athletes must have experienced a season- or career-ending injury as a result of their varsity high school or college athletic participation. The researchers used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) along with a series of demographic questions for the survey. The final research sample for the survey was 100 participants with a mean age of 22 (60% female, 80% Caucasian). For the focus groups, researchers asked a series of semi-structured questions. A total of ten athletes participated in the focus groups. Participants for both the web-based survey and focus groups came from samples of convenience. The researchers used descriptive statistics to provide details about the sample and an overview of the survey results. A multiple regression was used to examine the impact of gender, race, role on the team, scholarship level, and year the injury occurred had on Posttraumatic Growth. The researchers transcribed the focus groups and coded for themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results. Overall, athletes experienced a moderate degree of Posttraumatic Growth after their injury. Athletes were most likely to identify new possibilities for their athletic potential and find appreciation for new life goals. Regression analysis revealed the year the injury occurred and athlete gender as significant predictors. Phenomenological analysis revealed multiple qualitative themes around personal strength, support networks, and coping strategies.

Conclusions and Implications. The findings of this study provide behavioral health professionals guidance for helping athletes to: (1) build strong support pre- and post-injury, (2) recognize new possibilities post-injury, and (3) maintain an appreciation of life despite athletic implications. Positively impacting the lives of athletes, in addition to educating professionals, could significantly impact how future generations respond to injuries that threaten an individual’s ability to identify as an athlete.