How Concussions Affect Males and Females Differently
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Concussions in Males Versus Females
In recent years, research has shown rising rates of concussions in females.
One study of more than 80,000 high school students across the United States found that female soccer players were twice as likely to suffer concussions as their male counterparts.
Another study found that girls who play soccer are at nearly the same risk of concussion as boys who play football.
“Research shows the rate of female concussions is rising more than for males,” says Angela Colantonio, PhD, director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto.
And while this is true in the sports world, there are many other causes of traumatic brain injury, including falls, motor vehicle accidents, and blows to the head. Dr. Colantonio says there are likely many more undocumented brain injuries among women, such as in cases of intimate partner violence.
In addition to higher rates of concussion among females, female athletes report a higher number of symptoms and more severe symptoms after brain injury than males.
One study conducted by Colantonio and a research team found that women were more likely to report headaches, dizziness, and loss of confidence after a concussion than men. Women were also more likely to report a lack of initiative and a need for supervision that became significantly problematic in daily functioning after a head injury.
In contrast, male participants in the study had a greater sensitivity to noise and more sleep disturbances than females and reported more difficulty setting realistic goals. Men also reported restlessness as a problem following a concussion.
In another study, females reported higher percentages of symptoms following a concussion. Deaths due to traumatic brain injury were also noted to be higher in pediatric and elderly female patients when compared with males in these same age groups.
Other research suggests women are more susceptible to the long-term effects of a concussion. A study of 2,000 people who suffered a traumatic brain injury determined that women were more likely than men to have symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty with memory and concentration, one year after sustaining the injury.
