Advancing Scientific Understanding of Concussion Recovery in Female Athletes: A Quantitative Examination of a Three-Construct Framework 12 views

Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a heterogeneous injury involving dynamic interactions across neurological, biological, and psychological systems. Traditional symptom-based models often fail to capture this complexity, particularly across sex. This dissertation introduces a multidimensional neuroinformatics framework integrating neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, and self-reported symptoms to model recovery as a latent, dynamic process. Using NCAA–DoD CARE Consortium data, confirmatory factor analysis, and latent transition analysis were applied across key recovery timepoints (24–48 hours, asymptomatic, and 7-day return-to-play). Results supported a multidimensional structure, with distinct but interrelated constructs contributing to recovery trajectories. Recovery was non-linear, with heterogeneous transitions over time. Sex-stratified analyses revealed differing construct-level patterns: females showed distinct acute psychological and biological profiles, while males exhibited higher overall burden but faster return-to-play. These findings highlight the importance of sex-informed, multidimensional modeling and provide a scalable framework for improving concussion assessment, monitoring, and individualized return-to-play protocols.

PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)

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2026-04-21