Social support during youth concussion recovery

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Concussion recovery presents unique challenges for adolescents.
• Social support is crucial for mitigating negative impacts of concussion.
• Understanding adolescent girls' perspectives on support is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore high-school aged girls' lived experiences with social support during concussion recovery.
• To identify definitions of meaningful social support, barriers, and facilitators.
• To understand the roles of different support providers, particularly peers.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with 10 girls aged 14-19.
• Participants had a personal history of concussion.
• Qualitative data analysis to identify themes in social support experiences.

Main Results:

• Key support providers included close friends, peers with concussion history, and parents.
• Friends fostered social inclusion, mitigating isolation.
• Peers with concussion history offered empathy and validation.
• Parents provided practical assistance using 'adult power'.
• Lack of understanding of lived experiences emerged as a significant barrier.

Conclusions:

• Tailored support strategies are needed for different provider groups (friends, peers, parents).
• Education initiatives featuring personal accounts can improve support.
• Addressing barriers related to understanding concussion experiences is essential for effective recovery.