Exploring children's self-efficacy related to physical activity performance after a mild traumatic brain injury
Isabelle Gagnon1, Bonnie Swaine, Debbie Friedman
1Ecole de réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada. Isabelle.gagnon6@sympatico.ca
Insights
Children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) show reduced self-efficacy in physical activities post-injury, despite returning to pre-injury activity levels. Interventions can help restore confidence after mTBI.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Sports medicine
- Rehabilitation psychology
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can impact various aspects of a child's life, including their confidence in physical activities.
- Understanding the psychological effects of mTBI on physical activity self-efficacy is crucial for effective recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in self-efficacy for physical activity in children following mTBI.
- To compare self-efficacy levels in children with mTBI to non-injured peers.
- To examine the relationship between mTBI, physical activity, and athletic competence.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 34 children with mTBI and 34 matched non-injured children participated.
- Self-efficacy, physical activity levels, athletic competence, and post-concussion symptoms were assessed.
- Assessments were conducted pre-injury (retrospectively) and 12 weeks post-mTBI for the injured group, and at corresponding intervals for the control group.
Main Results:
- Children with mTBI reported significantly lower self-efficacy for physical activities at 12 weeks post-injury compared to their pre-injury levels and controls.
- Despite lower self-efficacy, children with mTBI returned to their pre-injury participation rates in physical activities.
- Athletic competence was maintained in children with mTBI at the 12-week follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Children with mTBI experience a decline in confidence regarding physical activity performance, even when physical participation resumes.
- Targeted interventions, including informational and counseling sessions for children and parents, may mitigate the negative impact of mTBI on physical activity self-efficacy.
Objective:
To evaluate children's self-efficacy related to their practice of physical activities prior to and after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and compare these to those of noninjured children matched for age, sex, and premorbid level of physical activity.
Participants And Methods:
Thirty-four children (mean age: 12 +/- 3 years) in each group. Children with mTBI were assessed 1 day postinjury (to document preinjury status) and at 12 weeks post-mTBI using a self-efficacy questionnaire, the Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Athletic Competence subscale of the Self-Perception Profile for Children or Adolescents, and the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. Noninjured children underwent the same assessments at a corresponding time interval.
Results:
At 12 weeks postinjury, self-efficacy scores of children with mTBI were significantly lower than initial (ie, pretraumatic) values and those of noninjured children. The children with mTBI had, however, returned to their preinjury level of participation in physical activities and maintained their athletic competence.
Conclusions:
After mTBI, children appear to lack confidence in their ability to perform during physical activities as compared to before their injury. Intervention strategies such as information or counseling sessions targeting children and their parents may minimize the impact of the mTBI on children's confidence in their performance in physical activities.
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