Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
11
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2023 1:30 PM
College
College of Health Sciences
Department
Athletic Training
Abstract
Clinical Scenario: Psychological reactions experienced by injured athletes range from fear to anger, anxiety, and possible depression. However, there is an outside factor that has been supported throughout the years that can aid in an athlete’s injury journey: social support. Social support is defined as an exchange of resources between two individuals perceived by the provider or the recipient to be intended to enhance the well-being of the recipient. Social support operates in two different mechanisms; a buffering hypothesis and a direct-effect hypothesis. Different examples of social support include emotional, instrumental, and informational; all of which have been supported to provide positive outcomes on the injured athletes during the rehabilitation process.
Focused Clinical Question: What type of social support is most helpful for injured female and male Division I collegiate athletes? Summary of Key Findings: A thorough literature review yielded three studies potentially relevant to the clinical question, followed inclusion criteria, and disregarded exclusion criteria. Two of the three studies supported that athletic trainers provide the most optimal social support for both male and female Division I collegiate athletes. One of the three studies suggested that emotional support provided by family/friends was the most helpful in female collegiate athletes, while social support provided by athletic trainers was the most helpful in male collegiate athletes.
Clinical Bottom Line: The evidence supported that athletic trainers provide the most helpful social support to all individuals observed. Proper emotional and instrumental social support techniques should be practiced by all healthcare providers that are involved in an athlete’s injury process.
Strength of Recommendation: Grade B evidence exists to support the effectiveness of social support provided by athletic trainers in both male and female injured Division I collegiate athletes.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Debbie Bradney Dr. Domenica Favero
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Social Support for Injured Division I Collegiate Athletes
Turner Gymnasium
Clinical Scenario: Psychological reactions experienced by injured athletes range from fear to anger, anxiety, and possible depression. However, there is an outside factor that has been supported throughout the years that can aid in an athlete’s injury journey: social support. Social support is defined as an exchange of resources between two individuals perceived by the provider or the recipient to be intended to enhance the well-being of the recipient. Social support operates in two different mechanisms; a buffering hypothesis and a direct-effect hypothesis. Different examples of social support include emotional, instrumental, and informational; all of which have been supported to provide positive outcomes on the injured athletes during the rehabilitation process.
Focused Clinical Question: What type of social support is most helpful for injured female and male Division I collegiate athletes? Summary of Key Findings: A thorough literature review yielded three studies potentially relevant to the clinical question, followed inclusion criteria, and disregarded exclusion criteria. Two of the three studies supported that athletic trainers provide the most optimal social support for both male and female Division I collegiate athletes. One of the three studies suggested that emotional support provided by family/friends was the most helpful in female collegiate athletes, while social support provided by athletic trainers was the most helpful in male collegiate athletes.
Clinical Bottom Line: The evidence supported that athletic trainers provide the most helpful social support to all individuals observed. Proper emotional and instrumental social support techniques should be practiced by all healthcare providers that are involved in an athlete’s injury process.
Strength of Recommendation: Grade B evidence exists to support the effectiveness of social support provided by athletic trainers in both male and female injured Division I collegiate athletes.