Association of Core Beliefs Shaken and Deliberate Rumination with Posttraumatic Growth Following Athletic Injuries

It is well known that athletic injury could cause emotional distress. However, in the process of cognitive changes to accommodate these highly stressful experiences, some athletes report experiences that reflect posttraumatic growth (PTG). PTG is viewed as a positive psychological change resulting from a struggle with a highly challenging crisis. This prospective study was designed to examine the association of Core Beliefs Shaken and Deliberate Rumination with PTG following athletic injuries. University student-athletes (N=336) completed a baseline survey that included questions about socio-demographics, sports-related injury experiences, Subjective Unit of Distress and the Japanese version of Event Related Rumination Inventory and Core Beliefs Inventory (Time 1). Four months later (Time 2), 312 of the same athletes completed the PTG Scale After an Athletic Injury. Data of 108 participants that met the screening criteria were analyzed. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the association of Core Beliefs Shaken and Deliberate Rumination with PTG was different for different PTG subscales. Core Beliefs Shaken was associated Relating to Team Members and Better Preparation on Competition. Deliberate Rumination was associated all PTG subscales. Moreover, the interaction between Core Beliefs Shaken and Deliberate Rumination was significant for Better Preparation on Competition. These findings suggest that developing an environment in which athletes reflect on themselves could contribute to their psychological growth.