Read the case study below of Eli’s sport injury experience. With reference to appropriate theories and research, write a report explaining the possible psychological reasons for Eli’s injury, his psychological responses to the injury, and possible psychological interventions that may aid his sport injury rehabilitation.
Eli is a 24-year-old county-level handball player who has recently sustained a shoulder injury during a game. Prior to the injury he had been going through a difficult time after losing his job and consequently struggling to find the money to pay his rent. On top of this, after some recent performance difficulties, Eli was concerned that he might not get selected for the county team. He is highly committed to handball and it is a significant part of his life – he trains every day and most of his friends are fellow handball players.
Following the injury, Eli experienced feelings of anger and frustration. He was angry at himself for sustaining the injury due to what he described as a ‘stupid mistake’ and felt frustrated that he was unable to train, compete and fight for his place in the county team. The physiotherapist has advised him that he won’t be able to compete for around six weeks and will not be able to undertake any handball-specific training for 3–4 weeks. This has led Eli to feel very isolated from his friends and teammates and he is experiencing symptoms of depression. He is becoming increasingly anxious about his ability to fully recover and ‘catch up’ when he returns to handball. He is currently in a very negative mindset and often makes negative comments to his physiotherapist and coach about his recovery (e.g. ‘What’s the point? I’m never going to get fit again’). This appears to be impacting on his adherence to his rehabilitation programme as his physiotherapist has reported that he has missed a few of his sessions and doesn’t always seem motivated in those he has attended.
Your report should be split into five parts (refer to the guidance section for more detailed information about what should be included in each part):
Introduction (250 words, 5 marks)
Explain the focus of the report and any assumptions you have made about the case study.
Psychological causes of Eli’s sport injury (800 words, 30 marks)
Identify and explain the key psychological factor(s) that may have contributed to Eli sustaining his injury.
Psychological responses to sport injury (800 words, 30 marks)
Explain Eli’s psychological responses to injury in relation to at least one relevant model.
Psychological intervention/skills programme (900 words, 30 marks)
Identify three psychological interventions that could aid Eli’s sport injury rehabilitation, and justify and explain why you have selected them for him.
Conclusion (250 words, 5 marks)
Summarise your main points and conclusions.