A-29 To report or not to report: A review of adolescent decision-making theories following sports-related concussion

Abstract Purpose Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a prevalent concern among adolescent athletes. If SRC suspected, athletes are usually removed from play for assessment and symptom monitoring. Return-to-play decisions heavily rely on athlete self-report of associated symptoms. Social pressures attitudes related to reporting influence an athlete’s decision whether disclose symptoms; not increases risk subsequent injury delayed recovery. Therefore, it important understand the decision-making process following SRC. In this review, prevailing theories that explain will be evaluated clinical lens. Data Selection Literature was reviewed using Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS. Search terms included “concussion” AND “sport” “symptom reporting” OR “reporting” “self-report”. Other “decision-making”, “disclosure”, “adolescent”, “high school”, “college”. Articles 2004-2023 were included. Synthesis Three have been proposed underreporting athletes: Theory Reasoned Action Planned Behavior, Bandura Cognitive Theory, Disclosure Decision-Making Model. These critiqued lack research neurodevelopmental components highlighted. Conclusions The complex, multi-factorial, state-dependent. While these provide critical insights into SRC, they do consider factors such as imbalance between cognitive control reward processing in adolescence. When educating parents coaches about clinicians socioemotional, cultural, environmental, factors.