Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Scott Burkhart, Psy.D.

Second Advisor

Chris Koch, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Dale Isaak, ATC

Abstract

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) among college athletes remain a growing area of concern due to a myriad of potential short and long-term implications. Understanding concussion trends and incidence in collegiate sports is critical for guiding prevention and management strategies. This study examined concussion injuries among NCAA Division III collegiate athletes at a single institution over a 10-year period. Analyses focused on trends in concussion incidence across sports, genders, and changes associated with institutional and NCAA policy updates. Results indicated that concussion incidence varied across sports and time, with higher rates in contact sports such as football and soccer. Significant differences occurred between pre- and post-event periods for the NCAA policy implementation, NCAA updates, and discontinuation of student athletic trainers. Some sports were more impacted by these time-period shifts than others, indicating sport-specific differences. Symptom and severity scores remained relatively stable, apart from a significant decrease in symptom scores following the loss of student athletic trainers in 2022. Overall, findings underscore how policy and contextual factors shape concussion patterns in Division III athletics and emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring, targeted education, and tailored mitigation strategies in resource-limited collegiate settings.

Download

Share

COinS