Young athletes' perceptions of playing through pain

Throughout the early career of an athlete, they are introduced and socialized into the sport ethic culture of risk of playing through pain. The purpose of this paper was to examine factors thought to influence young athletes’ conformity to the sport ethic by playing through pain. These factors included: athletic identity, fear of failure, and perceived pressure from important others to play through pain (Jessiman-Perreault & Godley, 2016; Nixon, 1994). The researcher contacted sport club organizations, recreational clubs, and school principals to seek cooperation. Participants included 140 male and female athletes aged 11-18 years old. Participants completed the Risk of Pain and Injury Questionnaire, Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, and the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory. An athlete’s approval of withstanding the risks of pain and injury in sport was weakly, positively related to perceived pressure from significant others to play through pain and athletic identity. Athletes with high athletic identity expressed greater approval of withstanding the risks of pain and injury in sport. No difference was found between age groups on perceived pressure to play through pain from significant others. Perceived pressure from significant others to play through pain emerged as the strongest predictor for an athlete’s approval of withstanding the risks of pain and injury in sport. Future research should examine the difference between team and individual sports and their relationship to athletic identity, fear of failure, and perceived pressure from significant others to play through pain.