Perceived Benefits Following Sport Injury: A Qualitative Examination of their Antecedents and Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract

This study examined the antecedents and mechanisms underlying the perceived benefits following sport injury. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 previously injured athletes. The transcripts were content analyzed and the emergent themes displayed by causal networks (Miles & Huberman, 1994). Findings revealed a number of perceived benefits, which emanated from several antecedents across three temporal phases: (a) injury onset (e.g., emotional response), (b) rehabilitation (e.g., free time), and (c) return to competition sport (e.g., reflective practice). The participants also reported a number of mechanisms through which they derived their perceived benefits, including self-disclosure to others and mobilizing one's social support network. The findings have implications for enabling athletes to transform their injury from a potentially debilitating experience into an opportunity for growth and development.