Distinct self-regulation patterns differentiate runners by recent injury history and current injury status: A cross-sectional study of Australian runners.

OBJECTIVE

To examine self-regulation strategies, passion, and pain responses among runners with distinct injury recency profiles.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Online survey.

PARTICIPANTS

335 runners (50.5% male; median age 39 years, IQR 29-51).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demands, resources, and recovery (DISQ-R Sport 1.2); metacognition (Self-Regulation of Sport Practice Survey); 12-month injury severity (OSTRC-H2); passion (Passion Scale); and pain responses (Pain Responses Scale).

RESULTS

Participants were grouped into four profiles: currently (n = 85), recently (n = 115), previously (n = 90), and never injured (n = 45). Currently and recently injured runners reported higher physical/emotional demands, evaluative overthinking, and maladaptive pain responses. Previously injured runners showed stronger cognitive/emotional recovery strategies, but high passion combined with frequent event participation increased remote-injury classification likelihood. Never-injured runners were characterized by lower demands, greater cognitive resources, fewer negative pain responses, older age, and more running experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct patterns of self-regulation, passion, and pain responses differentiate recent injury history profiles in runners. Integrating psychological and behavioural factors with physical training may improve understanding of psychological correlates across distinct injury histories and support more holistic strategies tailored to the runner's current injury status.