Social Norms and Concussion Disclosure Behavior: Clarification of Terms and Measurement Recommendations

Abstract

Nondisclosed sport-related concussion symptoms pose a significant risk to athletes’ health and well-being. Many researchers have focused on understanding the factors affecting athletes’ concussion disclosure behaviors. One of the most robust predictors of the likelihood that an athlete will disclose concussion symptoms to their coaches, athletic trainers, parents, or peers is what researchers term social norms. The extant literature regarding social norms influencing concussion disclosure behaviors is inconsistent on how the construct should be defined, conceptualized, or measured, often failing to distinguish between descriptive and injunctive social norms and their sources (direct and indirect). In this technical note, we provide an overview of these critical distinctions, their importance in assessments, and examples from the literature in which scholars have correctly operationalized these constructs in athletic populations. We conclude with a brief set of suggestions for researchers seeking to measure social norms in future research.