Chapter 4: Psychological Responses to Injury

Question 1

Stage Model assumptions

Answer 1

1. when athletes become injured they lose apart of themselves
   2.

Question 2

Grief Model (Kubler & Ross)

Answer 2

“intense emotional suffering set off by emotional loss”
-focus on perceived loss
-individuals values perceives the significance of the loss
-active process that changes over time through different stages

Question 3

What was the grief model believed to be similar to

Answer 3

death and dying stages
-denial
-anger
-bargaining
-depression
-acceptance

Question 4

What are the criticisms of the grief model?

Answer 4

-stages may not go order
-behaviors associated with stages may not occur
-stages may not be observable
-possibility of regression

Question 5

The Kubler-Ross Change Curve assumptions

Answer 5

1. an athlete losses part of themselves with their injury
2. all athletes follow a predictable, immutable sequence of psychological responses

Question 6

Cognitive Appraisal

Answer 6

appraisal demands the emotional response

Question 7

functions of the emotional response

Answer 7

-indicates importance
-insight into the persons beliefs about self and the world
-how the situation is being appraised
*emotion is reaction to the meaning of the injury

Question 8

Research supporting cognitive appraisal models

Answer 8

-injury is a significant source of stress
-personal and situational factors are related to psychological responses to sport injury
-psychological responses are associated with sport injury rehabilitation

Question 9

Stress of being injured

Answer 9

not only does stress influence the risk of injury but also can influence how an athlete reacts to the injury

Question 10

What are some common stressors?

Answer 10

-physical problems
-medical treatments
-rehab difficulties
-financial difficulties
-career worries
-sense of missed opportunities

Question 11

Signs of Poor adjustment

Answer 11

-feelings of anger and confusion
-obsession with when on can return to play
-denial
-repeatedly coming back too soon and experiencing re-injury
-exaggerated bragging about accomplishments
-dwelling on minor physical complaints
-guilt about letting the team down
-withdrawal from significant others
-rapid mood swings
-statements indicating that no matter what is done, recovery wont occur

Question 12

Specific reactions to consider

Answer 12

-identity loss
-fear and anxiety
-lack of confidence
-performance reduction

Question 13

Identity loss

Answer 13

important part of self is lost, affecting their self concept
-especially important if the injury is career ending

Question 14

Fear and anxiety

Answer 14

-athletes worry about
recovering
re-injury
being replaced
-fear getting back to sport once recovered

Question 15

Performance Reduction

Answer 15

-due to lowered confidence and missed practice, athletes may have post-injury declines
-some have difficulty in lowering expectations after an injury expect to immediately return to pre-injury level of performance

Question 16

Career-Ending Injuries

Answer 16

-unexpected termination versus planned retirement
-isolation
-grief: loss of career, identity, etc
-loss of athletic identity