Psychosocial factors and injury risk in Taekwondo: an exploratory prospective cohort study

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological profile of Taekwondo athletes competing at the 2011 Australian National Championships and to explore the potential relationship between psychosocial variables and injury risk. Forty-five athletes aged 16 years and older consented to complete a pre-tournament survey comprising demographic information and a battery of questionnaires designed to quantify four separate psychosocial factors (i.e., life-changing events, competition anxiety, coping skills, and social support). Older athletes had significantly lower competition anxiety (p = 0.035) and greater satisfaction with social support (p = 0.019) relative to younger athletes. Female athletes reported significantly fewer positive life events (p = 0.039) compared to their male counterparts. These findings indicate that younger or inexperienced athletes and females may be at greater risk from psychosocial stressors. Targeted programs to address these stressors may be beneficial; however, further research is needed to elucidate the relationships between injury risk and psychosocial factors in Taekwondo athletes.