Gender Differences in Concussion Symptomatology in Young Adult Ice Hockey Players

摘要

This study examined gender differences in total symptoms and previous concussions for young adult ice hockey players . A sample of 2,472 players, ages 19 to 25, completed preseason baseline ImPACT© (immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing) and were assigned to groups based on self-reported concussion history: none (male N = 595; female N = 136), one previous (male N = 791; female N = 144), two or more previous (male = 655; female = 161). Chi-square analysis determined gender differences in concussion history. Baseline Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) total symptom and cluster scores (cognitive, physical, emotional, sleep) were compared across gender and concussion history using analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were significant differences in age (p = 0.002, η~2＜0.01) and gender proportion (p = 0.037, V=0.04) across concussion groups. Hockey players with two or more concussions reported greater total (p = 0.001, η~2 = 0.01), physical (p = 0.001 η~2 = 0.01), cognitive (p = 0.001 η~2 = 0.01), and sleep (p = 0.002 η~2 = 0.01) symptom/cluster scores than those with a history of 0-1 concussion. Male hockey players reported more total (p = 0.002 η~2 = 0.01), physical (p = 0.003 η~2 = 0.01), and cognitive (p = 0.002 η~2 = 0.01) symptom/cluster scores. Similar to previous research, females reported a greater number of concussions than their males, yet likelihood of sustaining at least one concussion was equal. Players sustaining two or more concussions felt more symptomatic than those with 0-1 concussion regardless of gender. Females reported more total, physical, and emotional symptoms, but not more cognitive and sleep symptoms, contrasting previous research showing greater symptoms across all symptom clusters. Sustaining concussions was not related to greater emotional symptoms regardless of gender.