Journal article
Neuropsychological Profiles of Athletes and Views of Parents Choosing Flag Versus Tackle Football Participation
Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, Vol.10(3), pp.23259671221079360-23259671221079360
03/01/2022
DOI: 10.1177/23259671221079360
PMCID: PMC8918748
PMID: 35295552
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have found that injury rates are slightly higher in children who play flag football versus tackle football. It is unclear if this difference is due to the way each type is played or taught or whether there are intrinsic differences in attitudes or neuropsychological characteristics in children and their parents. Purpose: To determine whether children who play flag football score differently from those who play tackle football on validated neuropsychological tests. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Each participating athlete (aged 8-12 years) was recruited in 2018 and 2019 by email through local youth football leagues and the local university. Each athlete was administered a 1-time multidimensional assessment battery. The battery included the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2nd Edition, the children's version of the Trail Making Test, the Integrated Digit Span and Spatial Span subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4th Edition (WISC-IV), and the Beck Self-Concept Inventory for Youth. The parent/guardian of each athlete completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Report Form, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)-Parent Form, and a custom survey. These tests were used to determine IQ estimates and standardized scores, measuring verbal comprehension, matrix reasoning, mental set-shifting, attention, cognitive processing speed, working memory, spatial processing, perception of self-concept, behavioral regulation index, metacognition index, and global executive composite. Scores were compared between flag football and tackle football groups by 2-sample t test, with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test used for nonparametric data. Results: A total of 64 athletes (41 tackle football, 23 flag football) were enrolled from youth football leagues (grades 4-6). Flag players scored significantly higher on the WISC-IV Spatial Span-Backward subtest (scaled mean, 12.0 vs 10.6; P = .046), while tackle players had significantly higher BRIEF-Inhibit subscores (mean t-score, 45 vs 42; P = .026). There were no significant differences in any of the other tests, including socioeconomic status and perceived concussion risks. Conclusion: Concerns that injury epidemiologic studies comparing flag with tackle football could be confounded by intrinsic differences in the children who choose to play each type seem to be unfounded.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Neuropsychological Profiles of Athletes and Views of Parents Choosing Flag Versus Tackle Football Participation
- Creators
- Jasmine Roghair - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicinePatricia Espe-Pfeifer - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineAndrew Peterson - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, Vol.10(3), pp.23259671221079360-23259671221079360
- DOI
- 10.1177/23259671221079360
- PMID
- 35295552
- PMCID
- PMC8918748
- NLM abbreviation
- Orthop J Sports Med
- ISSN
- 2325-9671
- eISSN
- 2325-9671
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Iowa Primary Care Sports Medicine Research Fund Carver College of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship Rhythm Pharmaceuticals AOSSM
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Injury Prevention Research Center; General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984289764902771
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