FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES

During the 1998 and 1999 Fall seasons, 325 student-athletes from four high schools in New Jersey were surveyed about their knowledge base and attitudes about concussion. 104 female athletes were among those surveyed; 68 soccer players, 33 cheerleaders and 3 field hockey players. The female athletes tended to report different trends and attitudes than male athletes. Females noted severe headaches as their most common concussive symptom (94%). However, they endorsed a variety of symptoms not usually associated with concussion (leg weakness and hand numbness) demonstrating decreased knowledge. By history, female athletes reported a 30% headache rate related to sports vs. 15% for non-sports concussions. Two-third of female athletes experienced difficulties obtaining information about concussion. 60% felt that diplopia was the most important reason for reporting a concussion while the most significant barrier to reporting was failure to understand the seriousness. The magnitiude of this concern (40%) differed from male athletes (30%). Female athletes reported that academic difficulties (40%) and not thinking clearly (41%) were the most important reasons for ceasing participation in contact sports. These results suggest that female student-athletes are provided with less information about concussion than males. Reporting of symptoms appears to separate out by gender as does knowledge base and information sources. These results have important implications for education and prevention.