Study: HS boys fear looking ‘weak’ by reporting concussions

Researchers said that boys and girls have similar knowledge about concussions and symptoms, but boys show greater concern that their teammates or coaches will “get mad” if they report a suspected injury. Athletes at three Michigan high schools were surveyed for the study.

“Although males and females have similar concussion symptom knowledge, we still see a negative stigma” with reporting them, lead author Jessica Wallace told Reuters Health by email.

“Especially within male dominated sports, we are seeing that many male athletes are not reporting because they are highly sensitive to how their peers and coaches view them,” said Wallace, an athletic trainer and researcher at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Wallace thinks better concussion education programs are needed to teach kids the dangers of continuing to play with a concussion.

The study found that boys were four to 11 times less likely than girls to report their symptoms.

In the article, Wallace suggests that coaches use a “buddy system” for reporting concussions. Athletes might show reluctance in reporting their own symptoms, but they could be willing to say something if a teammate or friend appeared to be injured.

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