Why Young Adults Know About Concussions But Still Don't Report Them

Young adults are getting educated about concussions, but knowledge isn't translating into action. A recent study from Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience examined how undergraduate and graduate students understand concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and found a surprising disconnect: even those with formal training are reluctant to report symptoms.

Why Are Athletes Underreporting Concussions Despite Training?

Researchers surveyed young adults across multiple educational backgrounds and athletic participation levels to understand their concussion awareness and reporting behaviors. The findings revealed a critical problem that has long concerned neurologists: athletes showed significantly higher rates of formal concussion education and prior concussion diagnosis compared to non-athletes, yet they were less likely to actually report their symptoms.

This paradox suggests that education alone isn't enough. Athletes may face unique pressures—whether from coaches, teammates, or themselves—that create barriers to reporting injuries even when they understand the risks. The study underscores what many sports medicine professionals have observed: knowing about concussions and acting on that knowledge are two very different things.

What Role Does Social Media Play in Concussion Awareness?

Since young adults are among the heaviest users of social media platforms, researchers investigated whether these channels help or hurt concussion understanding. The study examined how different platforms influence knowledge and whether they serve as reliable sources of health information.

Interestingly, users of platforms such as Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter showed higher average concussion knowledge scores compared with users of other platforms, though these differences were not statistically significant. More importantly, athletes, health science majors, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) participants showed a trend toward lower trust in social media as a reliable source for concussion information.

This suggests that while social media can expose young adults to concussion information, those with more formal education tend to be skeptical of what they find online—a healthy instinct, given the prevalence of health misinformation on these platforms.

How to Improve Concussion Reporting Among Young Adults

• Develop targeted educational campaigns: Move beyond generic awareness and create messaging that addresses the specific barriers athletes face, such as fear of losing playing time or disappointing teammates.
• Leverage trusted platforms strategically: Partner with social media creators and health influencers to share accurate concussion information on Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter, where young adults already spend time.
• Create safe reporting mechanisms: Establish anonymous or confidential ways for athletes to report symptoms without fear of immediate removal from play, reducing the pressure that discourages disclosure.
• Train coaches and athletic staff: Education should extend beyond athletes to include the adults who influence their decisions, emphasizing that reporting injuries protects long-term health and performance.

What Did the Study Actually Measure?

The research team conducted a cross-sectional survey examining multiple factors that influence how young adults understand and respond to concussions. Participants were assessed on their demographics, concussion education history, prior diagnoses, symptom experiences, and attitudes toward reporting injuries.

The study also compared different groups to identify patterns. Researchers looked at athletes versus non-athletes, health, natural, and behavioral science (HNB) majors versus other students, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander participants versus matched Caucasian participants. This approach revealed that education level and athletic involvement significantly shape both knowledge and behavior—but not always in the expected direction.

The Knowledge-Action Gap: Why It Matters

Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by direct or indirect trauma to the head. While they're called "mild," the effects can be serious, including temporary neurological dysfunction that may not be immediately obvious. This is precisely why awareness and reporting are critical—symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or headaches can develop gradually, and without proper recognition and care, young adults may continue activities that worsen their condition.

The study's most important finding is this: the barriers to reporting concussions aren't primarily about understanding the condition. Instead, they're about the social, competitive, and psychological pressures that make young adults—especially athletes—reluctant to speak up even when they know something is wrong.

What's Next for Concussion Awareness?

The research team emphasizes the need for further investigation into 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.

The bottom line: if you're a young adult, athlete, or parent, concussion education is important—but it's only the first step. Creating a culture where reporting injuries is normalized and supported, rather than stigmatized, is what will actually protect young brains from long-term damage.