Exploring athletes’ socio-cultural experiences of support when living with persistent post-concussion syndrome

The purpose of this study was to explore how the socio-cultural context impacts on athletes living with persistent post-concussion syndrome (PPCS). Following interviews with 19 retired athletes with PPCS, a reflexive, thematic analysis was used to identify two main themes (Feeling Abandoned by Society, Support Encouraging Resilience), with each main theme having three sub-themes. Specifically, when feeling abandoned by society, the athlete with PPCS feels hopeless as socio-cultural stakeholders lack awareness, which can result in limited support and isolation. In contrast, when they feel supported, this leads to building resilience, with athletes with PPCS engaging in self-improvement and overcoming challenges. Awareness and advocacy further empower the athlete with PPCS and can result in more effective social, medical, and professional support. Therefore, our findings suggest that more support, including an early diagnosis, should be extended to athletes with PPCS, which could enable them to integrate their new identity in society more effectively. Moreover, our findings provide a call to action to promote awareness of PPCS and increased support like that currently extended to more visible conditions.