supporting injured professional football players : the role of significant others
abstract
the purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of professional football players
regarding the social support provided by family, friends and partners during injury. a
sample of professional football players [n=15] competing in the canadian football
league (cfl) were interviewed using qualitative and quantitative measures to determine
which type of social support they found most beneficial and from whom. the players felt
they were supported emotionally in the initial phases of injury from family and partners.
none of the participants required motivational support, many athletes reported not
requiring external motivation to heal and resume play. very few required tangible
support, although the need for tangible support varied with type of injury and timing of
injury. the players received valuable informational support concerning their injury
primarily from their friends who were also athletes, many players received to the
importance of understanding injury and its workings. family members and partners were
not believed to have a sound understanding of what the athletes were dealing with.
future research could evaluate the perspectives of family, friends and partners with
respect to athletic injury.
collections
- retrospective theses [1604]