Returning to sport after injury: the influence of injury appraisals and post-traumatic stress symptoms on adolescent risk-taking intentions post-injury.

This article examines how adolescent skateboarders' appraisals of injury influence the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and their intentions to return to skateboarding after a medically treated injury. In a study of 103 Canadian youth aged 14–17, higher pain experienced at injury was associated with greater PTSS, which in turn reduced intentions to return to skateboarding; however, attributing injury to bad luck weakened the link between pain and PTSS, and perceiving strong benefits from skateboarding increased the likelihood of returning despite PTSS. The findings highlight the complex interplay between psychological responses to injury and the valued social and personal benefits of skateboarding, suggesting that youth may return to the sport even when experiencing PTSS. The study underscores the importance of tailored mental health support and injury prevention strategies that consider both the risks and psychosocial benefits of skateboarding for adolescents.