Emotional responses to injury in Rugby Union players: an investigation of the potential influence of playing standards

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the playing standard of rugby union players influenced their emotional responses to injury. Specifically it examined the three phases of rehabilitation: onset of injury, rehabilitation phase and return to competitive sport. A sample of male rugby union players (n=10) participated in the study from both elite (n=5) and non-elite (n=5) playing standards, with all participants suffering a moderate to severe injury within the past 12 months. Individual interviews were conducted to gather the desired information which was later transcribed verbatim. Results revealed that during the onset of their injury every participant suffered from negative emotional responses, whereas during the rehabilitation process both groups experienced a decrease in negative responses as time progressed, however the elite subjects experienced positive emotions more frequently than their non-elite counterparts. Prior to their return to competitive sport, elite subjects experienced mixed emotions including responses such as confidence and anxiety, whereas the non-elite participants predominantly suffered from negative emotions prior to their return. It has been suggested that athletes’ experience various emotional responses as a consequence of numerous demands which subsequently alter due to playing standard. Directions for future research are provided within.