1. The Psychological Profile of Youth Athletes With Overuse Injuries Chelsea Kasper Junior, West Ottawa High School Mentors: Dr. Scott VanderStoep Dr. Kirk Brumels Hope College Research Assistant: Zachary Huber

2. Purpose of the Study Much has been written regarding youth athletes, injury, and overuse. This literature is largely anecdotal. Among other things, this study attempted empirical tests of some of these claims. Warrior Girls (Sokolove), local and national newspaper articles

3. Method

4. Sample Convenience sample; athletes age 13-18 104 participants: 51 males, 53 females; average age: 16.0 years

5. Procedure Consent forms given to athletes either directly or in mail Offered $15 HollanDollars for their participation Athletes returned signed consent forms either in person or in mail Calls to set up meeting times for athletes to take questionnaire (~25 mins.) or provide online link Entry of data into SPSS & analysis of data

6. Instrument Paper and online versions of questionnaire –6 sections: Athletic ProfileAthletic Profile Sports FrequencySports Frequency GoalsGoals Satisfaction with SportsSatisfaction with Sports Parental InfluencesParental Influences Reasons for ParticipationReasons for Participation

7. Finding 1: Injury Differences We asked about athletes’ experiences with 4 different types of injuries. –Muscle/tendon strain –Sprains/subluxations/dislocations –Fractures/stress fractures/growth plate injuries –Orthopedic surgeries We found few significant differences in muscle or sprain injuries. However, we did find several significant differences as a function of whether athletes suffered fractures.

8. ** p <.05 * p=.052

9. FractureNo Fracture

10. **p<.01 *p<.05

11. Athletes’ Explanations for their Injuries Injury is “Part of the Game” All Other Injury Explanations Fracture for >6 Months 100%0% Fracture for ≤6 Months 47.6%52.4% p=.027

12. Finding 2: Parents & Stress

13. Athletes’ Goal and Perceived Parents’ Goal Athletes’ Goal Perceived Parents’ Goal for Athlete p<.001

14. Perceived Parents’ Goal and Perceived Stress From Parents Perceived Stress From Parents Perceived Parents’ Goal for Athlete p=.004

15. Perceived Stress From Parents and Number of Weekend Tournaments Perceived Stress From Parents p=.028 Weekend Tournaments per Year

16. Summary of Findings Athletes who suffered fractures played more frequently, perceived more stress from multiple sources, and were more likely to believe injury was “part of the game.” There were positive correlations between perceived parental goals, athletes’ personal goals, and stress perceived from parents.

17. Acknowledgements Help with data collection: –Excel Rehabilitation/Sports Performance –Hope College Tennis Academy –Holland Hospital Rehabilitation Services –Holland Storm Softball –City of Holland Youth Tennis Program Funding support: –Howard Hughes Medical Institute –Frost Research Center Dr. Scott VanderStoep, Dr. Kirk Brumels, Zach Huber