The Psychological Effects of Sport-related Concussion on Rehabilitation Adherence and Motor Learning Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- 1 Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto 27 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sport-related concussions significantly impact athletes, affecting psychological health and recovery outcomes. This meta-analysis examined the influence of psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, and motivation, on rehabilitation adherence and motor learning in athletes recovering from concussions, with subgroup analyses by gender, age, and sport type. A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO identified five studies, revealing that anxiety and depression consistently reduced rehabilitation adherence, while low motivation delayed motor skill reacquisition. Female athletes exhibited higher anxiety and depression levels, younger athletes experienced greater emotional distress, and contact-sport athletes faced more severe psychological effects compared to non-contact sports. Although minimal heterogeneity was found (I² = 0%), potential publication bias was noted in the funnel plot. These findings underscore the critical role of psychological factors in recovery, highlighting the need for integrated mental health interventions and motivational strategies to improve rehabilitation and motor learning. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies and targeted psychological interventions to enhance recovery protocols for athletes.
Keywords
Concussion, rehabilitation adherence, psychological effect
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Cite this article
He,Y. (2025). The Psychological Effects of Sport-related Concussion on Rehabilitation Adherence and Motor Learning Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Theoretical and Natural Science,94,38-46.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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