Psychological Readiness to Return to Play in NCAA Division I Athletes

Context: Injury is common in athletic participation and the rate at which participants suffer injury increases as competitive level increases. With injury comes the presence of psychological stressors and decreased confidence which may not be resolved by the time an individual is physically ready to return to athletic competition. Purpose: The first purpose of this study was to evaluate NCAA Division I studentathletes' psychological readiness to return to sport competition according to the I-PRRS scale. The second purpose of this study was to determine differences in psychological readiness to return to competition between male and female student-athletes. The third purpose of this study was to determine differences in psychological readiness to return to competition based on length of recovery. The final purpose of this study was to determine differences in psychological readiness to return to competition based on history of having sustained a similar previous injury. Design: Descriptive and exploratory. Setting: Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center and HPER Center athletic training facilities at South Dakota State University. Participants: NCAA Division I student-athletes at South Dakota State University, >18 years of age, who sustained an injury causing them to be removed from sport participation for at least seven consecutive days and were suspected to return to full competition before February 3, 2012 were eligible to participate in the current study. Interventions: Eligible participants completed the Injury - Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport scale four times throughout the recovery period; initially within 24 hours after injury onset, the second within 24 hours prior to the initial return to practice, the third within 24 hours prior to the initial return to competition, and finally, the last within 24 hours after the first competition.Main Outcome Measurements: Frequencies and comparative median total confidence scores using nonparametric statistical analyses using the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were reported. Results: Total confidence scores significantly increased from time of injury to return to competition. No significant differences were present based on gender, length of recovery, or history of similar injury. Conclusions: NCAA Division I student-athletes demonstrate significantly improved psychological readiness to return to competition from the time of injury compared to return to competition. Gender, length of recovery, and history of similar injury do not significantly influence total confidence scores immediately after injury or at return to competition. Further research with a larger participant pool is needed to determine if the current findings are substantiated.