Situational correlates of emotional adjustment to athletic injury.

Patients at a sports medicine clinic served as subjects in an investigation of the relationship between various situational variables and emotional adjustment to athletic injury. Physician-rated current injury status, perceived impairment of sport performance, and perceived social support for rehabilitation were significantly correlated with postinjury depression. Age was negatively associated with postinjury mood disturbance. In general, patients demonstrated a positive mental health profile. The results suggest that although most patients cope well with their injuries, some patients experience clinically meaningful psychological distress that is associated with certain situational factors.