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EXPLORING YOUTH SPORT PARENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CONCUSSION AND CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Abstract

Nathan R. D’AmicoƗ1, R.J. Elbinǂ1, A. P. Kontosǂ2 1University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; 2University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

PURPOSE: To explore youth sport parent perceptions of the long-term effects of sport-related concussion (SRC) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). METHODS: A 22-item online survey was emailed to a convenience sample 5,366 youth sport parents in Colorado, Alaska, and Arkansas. The survey items consisted of demographic questions and other items assessing parents’ perceptions of the long-term effects of SRC and concerns about CTE. RESULTS: There were 692 responses from youth sport parents (M = 41 years, SD = 9.19 years), yielding a response rate of 13% (692/5,366). The average age of the parents’ child was 11 years (SD = 3.52 years), and 42% (686/1637) of the children played in youth soccer, followed by basketball (15%, 241/1637) and baseball (8%, 122/1637). Ninety-seven percent (667/689) of youth sport parents believe that there are long-term effects of SRC, 77% (528/686) have talked with their child about SRC, 77% (533/690) indicated concern that their child will sustain a SRC during youth sport participation, 46% (318/689) claim to know about CTE, and 39% (267/690) have considered not allowing their child to participate in youths sport due to concerns regarding long-term effects of SRC or CTE. In addition, 72% (487/679) of youth sport parents believe that tackle football has the highest risk for SRC, followed by soccer (31%, 208/679), ice hockey (26%, 176/679), lacrosse (23%, 158/679), and basketball (17%, 117/679). Forty-four percent (300/692) of youth sport parents get most of their information about SRC from the media and 57% (391/692) heard about CTE from the media. Among the children of the parents surveyed, 7% (47/688) have considered not playing youth sports due to concerns regarding long-term effects of SRC or CTE, 9% (63/686) have expressed concerns regarding long-term effects of SRC or CTE, 3% (18/688) have quit or been forced to quit playing youth sports due to SRC, and 1% (9/690) have stopped playing youth sports due to fear regarding long-term effects of SRC or CTE. CONCLUSION: The majority of youth sport parents believe that there are long-term effects of SRC and are concerned about CTE. There is a need to disseminate more information on the benefits and risks of youth sport participation as well as emerging treatment and rehabilitation options for SRC.

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