Coping Strategies of Injured Athletes: The Role of Gender, Type of Sport, and Injury Severity

Sports injuries can have devastating consequences and severely restrict an athlete’s ability to succeed. Research into the characteristics of psychological recovery from sports injuries can make an important contribution to the development of more effective rehabilitation programs. This study aims to examine coping strategies used by injured athletes, depending on their gender, type of sport, and injury severity. The sample comprised 95 athletes of various sports with certain types of injuries, aged 16–31 years (M = 19.40, SD = 2.55; 43 males and 52 females). The study used (a) the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory and (b) the Stress Management Questionnaire. The study found that athletes’ choice of coping strategies varies depending on their gender, type of sport, and injury severity. It was demonstrated that the choice of a coping strategy depends mainly on the type of injury sustained. Athletes who have experienced a severe injury are significantly more likely to use avoidance-oriented strategies, while athletes who have experienced a mild injury are more likely to use problem-solving-oriented strategies. Thus, it is understood that the choice of coping strategies after injury may differ depending on the sport discipline, the athlete's gender, and the severity of the injury. This will allow coaches and sports psychologists to create more targeted support programs that take into account the individual characteristics of each athlete's traumatic experience.