NJCAA Athletes' Psychological Preparedness to Return to Sport Following Injury Without the Use of Psychological Readiness Tools
Date of Award
Spring 5-4-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Exercise Science
Department
Kinesiology
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate NJCAA level athletes’ psychological readiness to return to play (RTP) after injury without the use of screening tools. Confidence levels and mood disturbances experienced by athletes while they were injured and first returning to sport following injury were investigated using mixed methodology. Forty-one National Junior College Athletic Association level athletes participated in an online survey that utilized the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport Scale (I-PRRS), Brunel Mood Rating Scale (BRUMS), and open-ended questions related to mental readiness. The average total score for the I-PRRS scale was 41.6 while the BRUMS subscale suggested that on average, the athlete was not prepared to return to play based on their mood. The themes collected from the qualitative data included confidence, positivity, happy, energy, mental toughness, and calm. While many athletes testified in the qualitative data that they were psychologically ready to RTP following injury, this differs from the quantitative findings that suggested that athletes were only moderately prepared. The results from this study support the use of psychological readiness measurement tools during injury rehabilitation in NJCAA athletes to ultimately restore their self-confidence and confidence in the injured segment and overall performance.