The Effect of Concussions on the Emotion Regulation Processes of Martial Arts Athletes

Abstract

Purpose To identify differences in the use of cognitive emotion regulation strategies between martial artists who sustained concussive injuries and their control teammates. Methods Athletes (9 concussed, 10 controls) from martial arts teams completed the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ) and rated pictures from the International Affective Pictures System (IAPS) using the self-assessment manikin (SAM). Athletes actively participating in martial arts were recruited directly from their team 9 months (280.67±85.59 days) following a concussion. Athletes with a diagnosis of neurologic disorder were excluded form the analysis. Results Athletes with a history of concussion reported catastrophizing (p=.007) significantly less often and reported putting things in perspective (p=.04) more often than controls when faced with a negative event. While viewing neutral (p=.05) and negative (p=.03) pictures, athletes with a history of concussion rated pictures as more positive than controls did. They also felt more in control than non-concussed athletes while viewing positive (p=.008), neutral (p=.01), and negative (p=.05) pictures. Conclusion Martial artists reporting concussive injuries appear to diverge from non-concussed teammates in their emotion regulation processes. This group difference could be explained by greater affect intensity and surgency for the concussed group and greater emotional control and leveling of positive affect for the control group. Altered affective report following concussion may be related to more general impairments in socio-emotional functioning. Additional research is necessary to better understand how those alterations evolve over time and in relation with subsequent concussive injuries.