Key points

Athletes are exposed to trauma both within and outside of sports environments.

Trauma can have adverse impacts on psychological health, physical health, and performance.

Effective treatments are available for athletes who have experienced trauma.

Between 13 and 25 percent of athletes experience posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and other trauma-related disorders, a rate that exceeds that of the general population (Aaron et al., 2019). These rates include experiences of both personal and sport-specific trauma. Some athletes enter their sports careers with histories of adverse childhood experiences (e.g., abuse, neglect), gender -based violence (e.g., sexual assault , domestic violence ), or intergenerational and identity -based trauma, while others experience trauma during the course of their sports participation (e.g., sports-related injuries, abusive team dynamics). This post will review common trauma symptoms among athletes, impacts of trauma unique to athletes, and effective treatments for PTSD among athletes. Source: quick fit / Pixabay Common Trauma Symptoms

Traumatic experiences, both personal and sport-specific, can have adverse effects on athletes’ psychological health, physical health, and sports performance. However, many athletes have a tendency to mask or minimize mental health concerns, including symptoms of PTSD, limiting practitioners’ ability to identify symptoms early and minimize the impact on health and performance. In fact, Aaron et al. (2019)’s review of PTSD in elite athletes describes how characteristics that make athletes elite (e.g., perfectionism , compartmentalization , derealization) are often the same characteristics that inhibit trauma processing. Thus, it is important for all staff in sports organizations to have the ability to identify symptoms and refer to appropriate services. Psychological Health: Trauma symptoms often manifest psychologically, including emotional dysregulation and the development of PTSD or other mood disorders. In efforts to cope with the aftermath of trauma, athletes may engage in health-compromising behaviors (e.g., substance misuse , self-harm , disordered eating ). Psychological symptoms, in turn, may create interpersonal issues with teammates and coaching staff (e.g., irritability, social withdrawal). Athletes who have experienced family trauma may also request that communication between athletics personnel and family be minimal or ceased .

Physical Health: Short-term physical consequences […]

Trauma and PTSD Among Elite Athletes