The Experiences of Partners of Elite Athletes Diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
The Experiences of Partners of Elite Athletes Diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
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Issue Date
2020
Authors
Bruger, Bryanna
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Abstract
This study explored partners' experiences of caring for an elite athlete who has post-concussion syndrome (PCS) or lingering symptoms of concussion. Until this point, the literature has focused mostly on athletes' experiences (McCrory et al. , 2017). Literature on caretakers or partners of athletes with PCS is woefully underrepresented . The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the experience of partners of elite athletes with PCS . Conventional content analysis of semi -structured interviews was used for the inductive identification of common themes in the participants experience, with the coding categories directly derived from the text data. This was done to elucidate the experience of the situation in which the significant others of elite athletes experiencing PCS or lingering symptoms of concussion find themselves. Major themes created from the coding of interviews included a) the lack of literature available and provided to the general public (mainly to those who have experienced a concussion and their caretakers) on concussions and PCS is a problem, b) a sense of ambiguity for caregivers/partners and their postconcussed loved ones (PCLO) regarding duration of symptoms and what to expect, c) caregivers/partners turned to potentially non-credible sources of information and at times, adding undue stress (e.g., feeling as if they need to wake their partner every hour throughout the night), and d) feeling as if the dynamics of their relationship had not changed, and if they had, quite minimally, following a concussion(s) sustained by their loved one. Evidence for mild caregiver burden was found as well, and participants identified emotional difficulties in their role of caregiver that were unexpected, exhausting, and involving emotions, specifically the presence of fear. This finding is of utmost importance to be aware of given the negative potential effects of caregiver burden (e.g. , depression).
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Keywords
"Concussion","Qualitative Research","Caregivers"