Self-Presentation Concerns Among Injured Adolescent Athletes: A Qualitative Investigation

Noémie Demers (), Leslie Podlog, Lucie Forté, Alexis Ruffault, Marie-Lyne Nault and Jeffrey G. Caron
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Noémie Demers: School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Leslie Podlog: School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Lucie Forté: Faculty of Sports Science and Human Movement, CreSco Toulouse University, 31062 Toulouse, France
Alexis Ruffault: Laboratory Sport, Expertise, and Performance (EA 7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 75012 Paris, France
Marie-Lyne Nault: Azrieli Research Centre CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
Jeffrey G. Caron: School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: Sport psychology research has shown that athletes might experience self-presentation concerns. However, fairly limited work has examined these specific concerns among athletes experiencing an injury, particularly among adolescent populations. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the nature, precursors, and implications of injured adolescent athletes’ self-presentation concerns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female ( n = 12) and male ( n = 2) competitive adolescent athletes ( M age = 15.1 years) who experienced a variety of serious injuries (e.g., ACL rupture, labrum tear) as a result of competing in various sports. Braun and Clark’s thematic analysis (2006) was used to develop themes pertaining to the nature, precursors, and implications of injury. Findings highlight a range of specific types of self-presentation concerns (e.g., concerns over “faking” an injury, lacking capability, disappointing others), the impact of the closeness of relationships with significant others, key implications (e.g., future sport apprehensions, negative emotions, motivational enhancements), and coping strategies. Results identify factors for targeted interventions aimed at managing self-presentation concerns among injured adolescents.

Keywords: adolescent; sport injury; rehabilitation; return to sport; parents; coaches (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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