Exploring the Utilization and Possible Benefits That Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) Interventions Could Provide for Fear of Re-Injury Among Female Footballers who Sustain an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Through Their Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Return to Play
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Authors
Berard, Julianne
Issue Date
2025-04-02
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
anxiety , fear , fear of re-injury , (elite) female football , ACL injury , psychological readiness , psychological flexibility , ACT
Alternative Title
Abstract
As athletes, female footballers are at risk of sustaining an injury. However, unlike their male counterparts, they are at an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The recovery, rehabilitation, and return to play journey for ACL injuries is long and laborious, and can impact an athlete's mental health and well-being and has implications for their quality of life and long-term impact. One major mental health issue athletes report after sustaining an ACL injury is anxiety and fear of re-injury. Sports culture typically puts more emphasis on mental performance rather than mental health and well-being. One way this shows up within sports culture and research is in the understanding of injury recovery, and the attention paid to physical recovery versus mental health and well-being. Psychological readiness has been found to be separate and an independent factor from physical readiness, and instrumental in understanding an athlete's recovery, rehabilitation, and return to play journey. Psychological flexibility has been shown to be effective in addressing fear and anxiety, along with qualities of self-compassion, grit, and self-confidence. This project aims to explore the pairing of acceptance and commitment therapeutic (ACT) modality with the anxiety and fear of re-injury that female footballers experience. The hope is ACT may be applied in both interventional as well as preventional ways within the injured athletic population.