Concussion, a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is commonly caused by direct or indirect trauma to the head and can lead to temporary neurological dysfunction. While awareness of concussion has increased in recent years, understanding of the condition and attitudes toward reporting symptoms remain inconsistent—especially among young adults.
Kevin Nguyen1,2, Ryan Nakamura1,2, Natalie Toma1,3, Kendal Nakaoka1,4, Emma O’Keefe1,4, Tyson Wu 1,5, Seth Heller1,6, Jennifer McQueeny1,7, Erin Evangelista1,2, Mitch Cadiz1,2, Chathura Siriwardhana2, Yone-Kawe Lin2, Matthew Kao1,2, Janette Bow-Keola1,2, Tyrone-John Sumibcay1,2, Kore Liow, 1,2, Enrique Carrazana,1
1Concussion & TBI Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Ctr & Video-EEG Monitoring Unit, Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience, Honolulu HI, 2John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI, 3 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Ca, 4University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 5American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, 6 San Jose State University, San Jose, Ca, 7University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR
A recent study examined how young adults understand neurological conditions such as concussion and how social media influences their knowledge and perceptions. The research also explored whether educational background, athletic participation, and demographic factors affect concussion awareness.
Why Concussion Awareness Matters
Young adults are among the most frequent users of social media platforms. These platforms can serve as sources of both health education and misinformation. Because concussion symptoms are not always immediately obvious, accurate information and awareness are critical for recognizing symptoms and seeking proper care.
The study aimed to better understand how young adults learn about concussion and whether social media contributes positively or negatively to their knowledge.
Study Design
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey among undergraduate and graduate students who met specific age and education criteria.
The survey collected information on:
- Demographics
- Concussion education history
- Prior concussion diagnosis
- Symptom history
- Attitudes toward reporting concussions
- Perceived reliability of social media for concussion information
Participants were also grouped and compared based on several factors, including:
- Athletes versus non-athletes
- Health, natural, and behavioral science (HNB) majors versus non-HNB majors
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) participants versus matched Caucasian participants .
Key Findings
Athlete Experience and Knowledge
Among the 202 respondents, athletes demonstrated:
- Significantly higher rates of formal concussion education
- Higher rates of prior concussion diagnosis
- More reported history of concussion symptoms
Despite these higher levels of exposure and knowledge, athletes were less likely to report concussions, suggesting that underreporting remains an ongoing issue.
Social Media and Concussion Information
The study also examined how social media influences concussion awareness.
Athletes, HNB majors, and NHOPI participants showed a trend toward lower trust in social media as a reliable source for concussion information, though these differences were not statistically significant.
Users of platforms such as Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter showed higher average concussion knowledge scores compared with users of other platforms, although these differences were also not statistically significant.
Demographic Comparisons
The study did not identify significant differences in concussion knowledge between NHOPI participants and matched Caucasian peers. This finding suggests similar levels of awareness between the groups within the study sample.
Implications for Concussion Education
The findings highlight an important challenge: even when individuals have received education about concussion, barriers to reporting symptoms may still exist.
Athletes in particular may experience pressure or hesitation when it comes to reporting injuries, which can lead to continued participation in activities despite possible brain injury.
Moving Forward: Improving Awareness and Reducing Misinformation
The study underscores the importance of targeted educational strategies designed to improve concussion reporting and awareness. It also points to the need for further research on how different social media platforms can be used to effectively promote accurate neurological health information.
Developing reliable, accessible, and engaging educational content may help reduce misinformation while encouraging young adults to recognize and report concussion symptoms appropriately.
