Examining Sex Differences In Concussed Individuals Perceived Total Number Of Concussions They Can Incur Before Retirement

Despite advancements in concussion awareness and education, many individuals still lack a full understanding of the significant impact that multiple concussions can have on the brain and the potential long-term effects. Previous research suggests athletes would consider discontinuing sport participation after three to four concussions. However, there is limited research examining sex differences in individuals’ opinions on the total numbers of concussions they believe they can sustain before retiring. To examine if sex differences exist in total number of concussions college-aged individuals think they can incur before believing they should retire from their sport. Part of a larger prospective study of college-aged individuals diagnosed with a concussion, participants completed a demographic survey that included age, sex, year in school, race, sport, prior history of concussion, and one concussion retirement question. Descriptive statistics and a ANCOVA (a=.05) were conducted to determine differences between males and females’ opinions on the total number of concussions they believe they can incur before retiring. Covariates included previous history of concussion, year in school and sport. RESULTS: A total of 44 concussions (Males=19, Females=25, μ=20±2 mean age) were included in the study. Of the participants 43.2% reported a previous concussion while 56.8% had no previous history of concussion. Males believed they could endure up to 20 concussions, while females thought they could handle 7 before retiring from sports. No significant different were found between males (6.11±5.15) and females (5.28±2.11) on total number of SRCs before retiring from sport (F(1,39) =0.046; p=0.831). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between males and females in the total number of concussions individuals think they can sustain before retiring from their current sport participation. The participants in this sample believe they can endure a higher average number of concussions before contemplating retirement from their current sport compared to what has been reported previously. Some experts recommend retirement after multiple concussions, but individualized decisions should consider symptom severity and recovery duration to prioritize athlete well-being and informed choices about medical retirement.