A - 53 Predicting Concussion Symptoms: Impact of Pre-Injury Risk Factors on Post-Concussion Symptom Severity in Football Players

Abstract Purpose This study examines whether baseline mental health factors—anxiety, depression, somatization, concussion history, learning disorders, ADHD, and SCAT/BSI scores—predict post-concussion symptom severity in Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes. Findings aim to improve concussion management and targeted interventions. Method This longitudinal study collected data during pre-season medical evaluations and within 48 hours post-concussion (2017–2018) using SCAT3 for symptom severity and BSI-18 for psychological distress. Participants included 793 CFL players (90% of the league, all male, aged 21–37, M = 25.35, SD = 2.79). Results Baseline characteristics showed that 45.1% (n = 358) had a concussion history. ADHD was present in 10.0% (n = 79), learning disorders in 4.2% (n = 33), and mental health diagnoses in 1.0% (n = 8). Regression analysis identified significant predictors of post-injury anxiety: pre-injury BSI Somatization (β = −0.697, p = 0.004), pre-injury BSI Anxiety (β = 0.649, p = 0.022), and SCAT3 (β = 0.627, p < 0.001). Other variables, including pre-injury depression, ADHD, and learning disorders, were not significant. SCAT3 was the sole significant predictor of post-injury depression (β = 0.702, p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings of this study determined that subjective depressive symptoms on the BSI-18 appear to reasonably predict concussion outcome variables, suggesting the BSI-18 might be a useful screener for CFL athletes. This study has the potential to significantly impact a wide range of individuals and groups, including football coaches, sports medicine professionals, sports psychologists, football players, and possibly the general public.