The impact of competitive youth athlete injury on parents: a narrative review

Abstract

Athletic injuries are common in youth sports, and much research has focused on the injury experience of athletes. However, less attention has been given to the impact of adolescent injury on relevant others within athletes’ recovery orbit, particularly parents. This narrative review examines the impact of adolescent injury on parents using the Multilevel Model of Sport Injury (MMSI). Results revealed that parents’ experience of their adolescent’s injury is influenced by intra- and interpersonal factors (e.g., thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and interactions with coaches, and sport medicine providers), as well as institutional, cultural, and policylevel factors (e.g., lack of organizational support, internalization of sport norms about playing with pain, and sport injury policies and guidelines). The review provides a more nuanced understanding of the factors and interactions that parents have following adolescent sport injury. Further research using the MMSI can extend current conceptualization and theorizing regarding parents’ experiences following adolescent injury.