Research
- Sexual harassment, abuse and intimate relationships between coaches and athletes: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Sungwon Kim, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 31(1), pp.43-63, (2026). While sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) can be perpetrated by various individuals in sport, coaches have been studied as one of the most frequent perpetrators due to their physical and emotional proximity to athletes. This systematic review attempted to evaluate the past 20 years of research (2003–2023) examining SHA and inappropriate intimate relationships between coaches and athletes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline, 20 studies that met the eligibility criteria were identified using four databases (PubMed, PsycNET, ScienceDirect and SportDiscus). Findings reveal common thematic measures among the studies reviewed, including characteristics of SHA (n = 9), coach-athlete sexual relationships (CASR; n = 7) and grooming (n = 4). Based on the narrative synthesis of each thematic measure, SHA in sport is experienced and/or perceived as various forms of sexual misconduct, ranging from harassment (e.g. sexual jokes, unwanted comments, fondling) to abusive behaviors (e.g. kissing, showing coach's private body parts, sexual intercourse). Although some studies show the acceptance of CASR especially when athletes are above the age of legal consent, the strong majority of studies suggest that CASR in general is harmful and unacceptable given the unequal power dynamics between the two parties. Additionally, grooming was often involved as a conscious strategy to cross athletes’ personal boundaries for eventual sexual misconduct through building trust and manifesting seemingly innocuous behaviors. Overall, these findings shed light on the current state of research on SHA occurring between coaches and athletes and have implications for sport governing bodies and organizations to be better aware of the issue, which in turn can result in creating a safer environment for youth athletes.
- Are some sports riskier than others? An investigation into child athlete experiences of interpersonal violence in relation to sport type and gender, opens in a new tab, Vertommen, T., Sølvberg, N., Lang, M., & Kampen, J. K., International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Volume 60(5), pp.921-945, (2025). Despite recent advances in safeguarding sport participants from interpersonal violence, empirical evidence regarding its prevalence and risk factors across different sports remains scarce. In this study, we investigated differences in the prevalence of interpersonal violence among a convenience sample of 9989 adults from six European countries who participated in organised sport before age 18. Utilising binary logistic regression analyses and CHAID regression tree analyses, we examined variations in reported experiences of neglect, psychological, physical, non-contact sexual and contact sexual forms of interpersonal violence based on gender and three sport classifications: type of sport (individual vs. team), sports attire (non-revealing vs. body-fitting/revealing) and weight-sensitivity (less weight-sensitive vs. weight-sensitive sports). Men participating in team sports reported significantly higher levels of victimisation across all types of interpersonal violence. Women in sports with non-revealing attire and men in less weight-sensitive sports also reported higher prevalence rates. The study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of interpersonal violence characteristics and dynamics across different sports. Insights into the factors influencing victimisation enable tailored prevention and response strategies to be developed to better address the needs of athletes and sport organisations.
- The blurred line in elite sport: exploring UK media reporting of bullying and banter, opens in a new tab, James A. Newman, Subhan Mahmood, James L. Rumbold, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 30(1), pp.57-72, (2025). In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the concepts of bullying and banter within both sport research and media reporting. However, at present, research has not explored reports of bullying and banter within the UK sport media This is a potential omission, as the media may provide important conceptual information about bullying and banter to those outside of the academic domain. Therefore, the present study sought to understand how banter and bullying are framed by the UK sport media and how these concepts have been distinguished from one another. Guided by a pragmatist approach, 85 print and broadcast media articles were analysed from The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Sun, The Guardian, British Broadcasting Company (BBC) and Sky Sports News (SNN). Through an abductive thematic analysis, the findings highlighted several themes around the media’s view of bullying. The media differentiated bullying and banter through the tipping point between these concepts and a misinterpretation of jokes and banter. The present study contributed to the current research on bullying and banter by analysing the media’s perspectives of the concepts. Overall, the findings outline the contemporary understanding of bullying in sport, whilst highlighting the significant influence the media has in shaping the discussion around banter in this context.
- “I always just viewed it as part of sport”: Psychological maltreatment and conformity to the sport ethic, opens in a new tab, Sarah McGee, Gretchen Kerr, Michael Atkinson, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 37(4), pp.487-506, (2025). Sport environments have the potential to be advantageous to one’s development and well-being; however, they are also plagued with the normalization of excessive pressures and extreme expectations that can enhance athletes’ susceptibility to experiencing harm, especially psychological maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore athletes’ experiences of conforming to the sport ethic and experiences of psychological maltreatment in sport. Semi-structured interviews were completed with thirteen retired, competitive, women athletes. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings demonstrate that the sport ethic influences the vulnerability of athletes to experiencing psychological maltreatment and athletes’ experiences of psychological maltreatment influence their conformity to the sport ethic. The desire to please is identified as central to this nexus between conformity and experiences of psychological maltreatment. The paper concludes with applied recommendations for sport psychology practitioners.
- Prevalence of emotional abuse and subsequent feelings in adolescent and young semi-professional male football players, opens in a new tab, Fatemeh RayatSarokolaei, Mohammad Vaezmousavi, Mojgan Memarmoghaddam, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 30(6), pp.754-767, (2025). Emotional abuse is the most common form of maltreatment in sports. However, due to the ignorance of the harmful effects and the hiding of this abuse in the shadow of success, less attention has been paid to it. In the present study, the researchers investigated the amount of emotional abuse and the subsequent feelings in young and adolescent athletes. The current research is cross-sectional with a mixed-methods approach, and 100 football players (adolescent = 59, young = 41) participated in the study. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which was analyzed and interpreted by grounded theory and SPSS software. Evidence demonstrated that 48% of all participants were emotionally abused by a coach during their sports career, such as humiliation and insults. While this maltreatment has been more common among young athletes, it has left far more short and long-term destructive effects, such as self-blame and loss of pride among adolescents. Based on the findings, we conclude that many athletes are exposed to emotional abuse, which has adverse consequences, especially in adolescence. Therefore, the awareness of athletes and coaches regarding maltreatment and its harmful effects can reduce the frequency of emotional abuse and maintain the psychological safety of athletes.
- Sustainability of Policies Addressing Harassment and Abuse in Children’s Sports: A Descriptive and Cross-National Account of Five European Countries, opens in a new tab, Shiakou, M., Alexopoulos, A., Avgerinos, A., et al., Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Volume 49(4), pp.309-331, (2025). Harassment and abuse in children's sports have significant long-term impacts on young athletes. The sustainability of policies addressing these issues depends on their comprehensiveness, implementation, enforcement, and adaptability. Despite progress by many sports organizations, abuse rates remain high. This study explored the perspectives of stakeholders on managing harassment and abuse in children's sports, aiming to promote healthy environments. It involved analyzing focus group discussions with 37 stakeholders from five European countries: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Austria. While the overt cases of abuse and harassment were easier to identify and address by the participants, the findings revealed several gray areas that complicate the situation which included physical training regimens, intense coaching practices, boundary violations, distinguishing motivation from mental abuse, parental conduct, and culturally accepted tactics. These gray areas were further influenced by cultural underpinnings, as norms and practices surrounding authority, discipline, and interaction in sports vary significantly across different cultural contexts. Participants emphasized the insufficiency of current educational programs and called for comprehensive initiatives to raise awareness among parents, coaches, federations, and child athletes. Training children on self-protection strategies was also deemed crucial. Participants highlighted the inadequacy of existing reporting mechanisms and advocated for clear, publicly accessible reporting guides. Despite acknowledging existing frameworks and policies, they reported inadequate implementation, indicating a gap between policy development and practical application.
- Athlete Mental Health and Wellbeing During the Transition into Elite Sport: Strategies to Prepare the System, opens in a new tab, Vita Pilkington, Simon Rice, Lisa Olive, et al., Sports Medicine, Volume 10, article number 24, (2024). The transition into elite-level sport can expose young athletes to risk factors for mental ill-health, including increased performance expectations, stressors associated with becoming increasingly public figures, and changes in lifestyle demands, such as diet, training loads and sleep. Successful integration into elite-level sport requires athletes to quickly adapt to these newfound challenges and the norms and culture of the new sport setting, while developing relationships with teammates, coaches, and support staff. Despite these demands, the mental health experiences of athletes transitioning into elite-level sport have been largely neglected in sport psychology literature. In this article, we offer a preliminary framework for supporting athletes’ mental health during the transition into elite-level sport. This framework is based on holistic, developmental, and ecological perspectives. Key recommendations include preparing athletes for the challenges they are likely to face throughout their athletic careers, highlighting athletes’ competence earlier in their careers, developing supportive relationships in the sport setting, and fostering psychologically safe sporting cultures. Supporting mental health from earlier in the athletic career is likely to promote athletes’ overall wellbeing, support enjoyment and retention in sport, and encourage help-seeking.
- Association of self-reported health problems and interpersonal violence in sport: a cross-sectional study in world-level performing athletes, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Adriaens K, Junge A, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume58(22), pp.1360-1368, (2024). A paucity of studies assesses the intersection of physical health (injury and illness), mental health and experiences of interpersonal violence (IV, also known as harassment and abuse) in sport. The objectives of this study were to examine the (a) frequency of self-reported physical and mental health problems of elite athletes in the 12 months prior to the survey, (b) differences in physical and mental health between male and female athletes and (c) relationship of athlete health with experiences of IV. Elite adult athletes from four sports were approached at eight international events to answer an online questionnaire on their physical and mental health, as well as experiences of IV in sport within the past 12 months. A total of 562 athletes completed the questionnaire. Overall, 75% reported at least one physical symptom, most commonly headache and fatigue (n=188; 33.5% each), followed by musculoskeletal symptoms (n=169; 29.4%). 65.1% reported at least one mental health symptom, mostly of anxiety or depression. More female than male athletes reported physical (F:81.9%; M:68.3%; p<0.001) and mental (F:71.9%; M:58.4%; p<0.001) health problems, while addiction problems were more frequent in male athletes (F:1.8%; M:6.4%; p=0.006. 53.0% of the female and 42.3% of the male participants reported having experienced at least one form of IV. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that all forms of IV, except physical IV (all p’s<0.001), were associated with an increasing number of physical and mental health symptoms. In addition, the analysis showed that female athletes had a higher increase in symptoms in response to IV than male athletes.
- Crossing the line: conceptualising and rationalising bullying and banter in male adolescent community football, opens in a new tab, Robert J. Booth, Ed Cope, Daniel J.A. Rhind, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 29(6), pp.758-773, (2024). This study investigates how bullying and banter are conceptualised and rationalised by those in male adolescent community football. The authors employ a social constructivist, interpretative phenomenological analysis approach using qualitative, semi-structured interviews. These methods explore the meanings behind the perceptions and experiences of male players (N = 8, M age = 15.4) and coaches (N = 4, M age = 39). Evidence demonstrated that intent was not synonymous with bullying and that bullying and banter behaviours are highly ambiguous depending on the shared understanding of learned barriers despite participants concurring with most aspects of the definitions. Moreover, banter and bullying behaviours in community football have been experienced by participants, with acts being rationalised through moral disengagement and hypermasculinity. The research indicates that although bullying and banter are conceptualised similarly to popular definitions, concrete definitions may be limited due to the fluid nature of bullying and banter and the influence of shared social understandings. Additionally, the findings gathered show bullying and banter being experienced and rationalised in male youth community sport through moral disengagement and masculinity. The implications of these findings for safeguarding players and coaches in community football are discussed.
- Fighting the system: Psychology consultants’ experiences of working with cases of maltreatment in sport, opens in a new tab, James A. Newman, Adam Lickess, Andrew J. Higham, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 36(2), pp.210-230, (2024). The aim of this study was to obtain a nuanced, in-depth insight into sport psychology consultants’ (SPCs’) experiences of working with cases of maltreatment in sport, and their practice recommendations to address this behavior. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five HCPC-registered SPCs in the UK. Data were analyzed in line with the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four group experiential themes emerged, centered around the participants searching for meaning, fighting the system, ingrained acceptance, and tackling the problem of maltreatment in sport. Specifically, the participants referred to how the sporting context influenced their understanding of maltreatment. They also discussed the inherent difficulties with reporting this behavior, and a lack of support in this process, whilst also alluding to how sporting institutions normalized abusive practices in pursuit of performance outcomes. To address the issue of maltreatment in sports, the participants discussed a variety of recommendations including organizations being accountable, the need for organizations to be more representative, and for SPCs to work with contextual intelligence. The findings from the present study provide important implications for sporting organizations, SPCs, and the professional bodies who support practitioners around the need to further understand maltreatment in sport, and to tackle this issue.
- Interpersonal gendered violence against adult women participating in sport: a scoping review, opens in a new tab, Kirsty Forsdike, Grant O’Sullivan, Managing Sport and Leisure, Volume 29(6), pp.898-920, (2024). This paper scopes recent empirical research to examine the focus of research into interpersonal gender-based violence against adult women in sport and what sports organisations are doing to respond and prevent such violence. The paper then sets out potential areas for future sport management research. We identified 15 papers. Findings are presented as a numerical summary and thematic analysis. The numerical summary reveals a lack of studies examining sport organisations’ responses to interpersonal gender-based violence against adult women participating in sport. The thematic analysis shows dominance of sexual violence often within the coach–athlete relationship, a focus on prevalence, and lack of theoretical underpinning. This paper shows a significant gap in research on adult women experiencing interpersonal gender-based violence in sport, and responses to such violence. It provides a foundation from which to drive future research.
- Match officials and abuse: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Dara Mojtahedi, Tom Webb, Chelsea B. Leadley, et al., European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24(1), pp.199-221, (2024). Match official abuse (MOA) in team sports has become a prominent issue within sport management; the effects of MOA on the safety, wellbeing and retention of officials has led to a growth of academic enquiry. The present review aimed to develop a thorough understanding of MOA through the perspective of sport officials from various sports. Qualitative synthesis of the results identified five key themes of empirical findings pertaining to the nature and prevalence of abuse; the effects of abuse on performance, wellbeing and retention; methods of interpersonal conflict management; facilitators of abuse; and match officials’ attitudes towards current support and intervention. Results show that MOA effects individuals at all levels of competition and can adversely affect the performance and wellbeing of officials.
- IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1322-1344, (2024). This evidence review and consensus process elucidated the characterisation and complexity of IV and safeguarding in sport and demonstrates that a whole-of-system approach is needed to fully comprehend and prevent IV. Sport settings that emphasise mutual care, are athlete centred, promote healthy relationships, embed trauma- and violence-informed care principles, integrate diverse perspectives and measure IV prevention and response effectiveness will exemplify safe sport. A shared responsibility between all within the sports ecosystem is required to advance effective safeguarding through future research, policy and practice.
- Quid interpersonal violence in the sport integrity literature? A scoping review, opens in a new tab, Bram Constandt, Tine Vertommen, Luke Cox, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 27(1), pp.162-180, (2024). Interpersonal violence (IV) against athletes has gained increased research, policy, and media attention. The purpose of this study is to analyze the scientific sport integrity literature (2010-2020) to better understand (a) to what extent, and (b) how IV has been discussed therein. Implementing Arksay and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, 1,342 studies were identified. Most studies focused on doping (n = 930), and to a lesser extent (illegal) gambling (n = 191), and match-fixing (n = 61). Only 36 studies broadly discussed IV as a sport integrity issue. Further thematic analysis showed that IV is sometimes recognized as a personal and organizational sport integrity threat and as an instrumental facilitator for other integrity breaches. Moreover, the normalization of aggression and violence in sport was a recurring theme, hampering safe, fair, and inclusive sport systems and organizations. To effectively address the issue of IV, this review article advocates for a broad, integral, and holistic sport integrity approach.
- Safeguarding policies and practices in International Federations: on the right track?, opens in a new tab Vertommen T, Mountjoy M, Constandt B, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1319-1321, (2024). Interpersonal violence in sport—whether physical, sexual, psychological or neglect—remains a pressing public health concern, casting a shadow over the well-being of athletes at all levels. The impact of interpersonal violence, often referred to as ‘harassment and abuse’ in sport policy documents, extends far beyond the individual, touching families, healthcare systems and society.1 In recent years, safeguarding strategies have emerged as a vital strategy to protect athletes in the Olympic Movement, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a key actor. However, the landscape of safeguarding policies and practices within Summer and Winter Olympic International Federations (IFs) still reveals considerable variation, often lacking consistency and comprehensive implementation. Recognising these gaps, an internal quality control project driven by the IOC Safe Sport Unit set out to establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating the safeguarding efforts of IFs. By developing a set of indicators (see table 1), the project aimed to create a baseline framework for measuring safeguarding activities and to provide a tool for tracking changes over time. Through the application of this framework, it becomes possible to identify key challenges and areas in need of attention, resulting in the ability to support IFs in strengthening their safeguarding activities by pinpointing critical gaps.
- Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review, opens in a new tab, George Raum, Kuntal Chowdhary, Olivia A. Glotfelty-Scheuering, et al., PM&R, Volume 16(4), pp.374-383, (2024). Compared to their non-disabled peers, athletes with disabilities are at an increased risk of interpersonal violence in sport. Athletes with intellectual disabilities specifically may face compounded risk due to impaired communication and social challenges. Despite the inherent risk of interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities, there is a paucity of literature focused on safeguarding strategies in this population, and no global consensus prevention guidelines exist. The goal of this review was to synthesize the literature on interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities and propose an evidence-informed safeguarding framework. Future research and practice should emphasize tailored training on appropriate athlete-protection strategies and ways to recognize and respond to suspicions of abuse in this population. Given the benefits of sports participation for persons with intellectual disabilities, implementation of fit-for-purpose safeguarding strategies would help address any elevated risk of interpersonal violence. Formal monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives can help minimize interpersonal violence.
- The Safe Sport Allies bystander training: developing a multi-layered program for youth sport participants and their coaches to prevent harassment and abuse in local sport clubs, opens in a new tab, Karolien Adriaens, Helena Verhelle, Gjalt-Jorn Ygram Peters, et al., Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 15, (2024). Harassment and abuse represent a pervasive and critical problem in sport with far-reaching consequences. Survivors’ testimonials underscore the profound and enduring impact of these experiences at individual, interpersonal, organizational and community level. Many of their stories reveal painful inaction from responsible adults in the sport organization, aggravating the harm. Other contributing factors to the harm inflicted include a culture of silence, lack of knowledge and understanding of what constitutes abuse, unawareness of reporting and supporting mechanisms, and fear of potential consequences. While effective bystander interventions have been developed outside the sport context, particularly targeting students in higher education, such initiatives have yet to be extensively adapted and assessed within the sport context. To address this gap, the Safe Sport Allies Erasmus+ collaborative partnership relied on the intervention mapping approach as a guiding framework to systematically develop a bystander training program (i.e., Safe Sport Allies) to train youth sport participants and youth sport coaches to act as effective bystanders. The current paper describes the comprehensive development process and provides an overview of implementation and evaluation possibilities. Throughout the paper, it is explained how each step of the Intervention Mapping approach shaped the Safe Sport Allies bystander training program. The program development, and the developed plans for implementation and evaluation are presented, shedding light on challenges encountered. The bystander training program developed in this paper and the implementation and evaluation plans can serve as an outline to build future interventions within this critical domain of safeguarding in sport.
- Social media impact on athlete mental health: #RealityCheck, opens in a new tab, Putukian M, Blauwet C, Currie A, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(9), pp.463-465, (2024). Although the literature on mental health and social media use has increased, minimal research exists on young and/or elite athletes, leaving many important questions unanswered. What are the positive and negative mental health effects of social media on athletes? Are there opportunities to use social media to increase mental health literacy, destigmatise mental health and normalise help-seeking behaviours? What measures exist to protect young and elite athletes from adverse effects of social media? This editorial addresses the potential benefits and harms of social media use on the mental health of athletes and calls for increased research, education and policy to better safeguard athletes in the future.
- Telling adults about it: children’s experience of disclosing interpersonal violence in community sport, opens in a new tab, Mary N. Woessner, Aurélie Pankowiak, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 27(5), pp.661-680, (2024). A challenge in safeguarding children from interpersonal violence (IV) in sport is the reliance on self-disclosures and a limited understanding of the frequency, barriers to and process of disclosures of IV. Through a mixed-methods design, combining survey and interviews, we explored the frequencies of childhood disclosures of experiences of IV in Australian community sport as well as who children disclosed to and how the interaction unfolded. Those who experienced peer violence disclosed at the highest frequency (35%), followed by coach (27%) or parent (13%) perpetrated IV. A parent/carer was most often the adult that the child disclosed to. Interviews highlighted how the normalisation of violence influenced all aspects of the disclosure and elements of stress buffering (normalising or rationalising) particularly underpinned the disclosure interaction. Policies and practices should explicitly identify all forms of IV in sport as prohibited conduct; education and intervention initiatives should target parents as first responders to disclosures.
- When jokes aren’t funny: banter and abuse in the everyday work environments of professional football, opens in a new tab, Colm Hickey, Martin Roderick, European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24(2), pp.383-403, (2024). This study provides an original insight into the attitudes professional football players hold towards banter. Contributing to the existing research that has examined forms of abuse within sport, this article aims to better inform the management and development of athlete well-being and player care.
- Athlete Perceptions of Governance-Related Issues to Sexual Abuse in Sport, opens in a new tab, Jörg Krieger, Lindsay Parks Pieper, Social Sciences, Volume 12(3), (2023). Cases of abuse in sport have emerged with frightening regularity over the past two decades. Scholarship has identified risk factors that can help facilitate abuse in sport and has explored athletes’ experiences with sexual abuse. However, less is known about athletes’ perceptions of the systematic organizational-level problems that fail to curtail sexual abuse. This article, therefore, explores what athletes believe to be the key issues in governance that facilitate sexual abuse in sport. An analysis of the lawsuits that athletes filed against US sport organizations and the testimonies they provided to the US Congress from 2017 to 2022 show four primary ways in which organizational culture, decisions and policies helped permit misconduct in sport. Athlete perspectives suggest governance issues related to monopolistic power structures, a lack of athlete representation, conflicts of interest, and commercialization facilitated an abuse-prone culture within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States. These findings show that athletes feel that the adjudication mechanisms that remain connected to sport bodies do not always curtail abuse.
- Culture, experiences, gender and sexual harassment for sport and exercise medicine/physiotherapy practitioners working in elite Australian sport, opens in a new tab, S. Cowana ∙ M. Girdwooda ∙ M. Haberfield, et al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 26(Supp.1), S175-176, (2023). All titled Australian Physiotherapy Association Sport and Exercise Physiotherapists, Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioners, and doctors and physiotherapists working in Australian elite sport were invited to participate in the project (Feb – April 2022). All participants completed a tailored online survey and a validated Gender Experiences Questionnaire (GEQ). Women SEMP practitioners were more likely to work with women athletes who are paid less, have lower public profiles and receive less media attention, than their men counterparts, which potentially impacts renumeration available for SEMP practitioners. Furthering the disadvantage, women working in elite sport worked less paid hours per week and less paid weeks per year. SEMP practitioners were appointed to positions without established procedures: i.e. most SEMP roles were not advertised, nor had formal and transparent recruitment processes. Women were 4.01 times more likely than men to agree that their gender and/or sexual orientation influenced their opportunities in elite sport. Women currently working in elite sport experienced significantly more infantilisation, work/family policing and gender policing than men. Women also reported feeling less supported to discuss/ disclose these issues in their workplace.
- Nonaccidental Violence Among Elite Athletes in Finland: Associations With Sport Conditions and Mental Well-Being and Ill-Being, opens in a new tab, Satu Kaskiand Ulla Kinnunen, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, Volume 17(4), pp.482-501, (2023). The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of nonaccidental violence among elite athletes in Finland, the predisposing factors to violence, and its consequences for mental well-being and ill-being. A total of 2,045 Finnish athletes participated in the study. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the associations. The results indicated that 38.8% had experienced psychological abuse, 14.7% bullying, 13.3% gender-based harassment, and 5.5% sexual harassment. Female and younger athletes reported more violent experiences than male and older athletes. A team’s safe atmosphere and readiness to act protected athletes from nonaccidental violence, whereas the coach did not play a role. Nonaccidental violence, particularly psychological abuse, was associated with reduced mental well-being and increased ill-being. Our results suggest that it is worth investing in the team’s mutual relationships and safe cooperation when ensuring appropriate behavior and preventing nonaccidental violence among athletes.
- Psychological, physical, and sexual violence against children in Australian community sport: frequency, perpetrator, and victim characteristics, opens in a new tab, Pankowiak, A., Woessner, M. N., Parent, S., et al., Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Volume 38(3-4), pp.4338-4365, (2023). Childhood sport participation is associated with physical, social, and mental health benefits, which are more likely to be realized if the sport environment is safe. However, our understanding of children’s experience of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in community sport in Australia is limited. The aims of this study were to provide preliminary evidence on the extent of experiences of violence during childhood participation in Australian community sport and to identify common perpetrators of and risk factors for violence. The Violence Towards Athletes Questionnaire (VTAQ) was administered online to a convenience sample of Australian adults (>18 years), retrospectively reporting experiences of violence during childhood community sport. Frequencies of experience of violence were calculated and Chi-square tests were conducted to determine differences between genders. In total, there were 886 respondents included in the analysis. Most survey respondents were women (63%) and about a third were men (35%). About 82% of respondents experienced violence in sport as a child. Psychological violence was most prevalent (76%), followed by physical (66%) and sexual (38%) violence. Peers perpetrated the highest rates of psychological violence (69%), and the rates of physical and psychological violence by coaches (both >50%) were also high. Age, sexual orientation, disability, and hours of weekly sport participation as a child were all associated with childhood experience of violence in sport. The rates of interpersonal violence against children in sport were high. This novel data on perpetrators of the violence and the risk factors for experiencing violence provides further context to inform safeguarding strategies in sport. A national prevalence study is recommended to advance our understanding of the childhood experiences of violence in Australian sport.
- Prevalence of interpersonal violence against children in sport in six European countries, opens in a new tab, Mike Hartill, Bettina Rulofs, Marc Allroggen, et al., Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 146, (2023). A self-report questionnaire was developed (the Interpersonal Violence Against Children in Sport Questionnaire or IVACS-Q) to measure prevalence of five categories of interpersonal violence (neglect, psychological violence, physical violence, non-contact sexual violence, and contact sexual violence) against children who participate in sport. Validation testing (published separately) showed reasonable levels of convergent and divergent validity. Prevalence rates were calculated by national context, whether inside or outside sport, and by sex (male/female).The sample (N = 10,302) consisted of individuals aged 18–30 who had participated in organized sport prior to age 18 (49.3 % male, 50 % female). Prevalence of IVACS inside sport differed by category: psychological violence (65 %, n = 6679), physical violence (44 %, n = 4514), neglect (37 %, n = 3796), non-contact sexual violence (35 %, n = 3565), and contact sexual violence (20 %, n = 2060). Relatively small geographical differences were found. Across all categories, males (79 %, n = 4018) reported significantly more experiences inside sport than females (71 %, n = 3653). Strong correlations were found between experiencing violence inside and outside sport.
- “There just isn't any other option—so we just have to put up with it”: mental health in women's cycling and the necessity of structural change, opens in a new tab, Jill Colangelo, Alexander Smith, Anna Buadze, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 5, (2023). This perspective article draws upon anecdotal and scholarly evidence to provide an overview of psychiatric concerns in women's professional cycling. This informs recommended strategies to improve mental health and advance equality within the sport, which should involve actions from several stakeholders, such as athletes, teams, and governing bodies.
- Beneath the Surface: Mental Health and Harassment and Abuse of Athletes Participating in the FINA (Aquatics) World Championships, 2019, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Junge, Astrid; Magnusson, Christer, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(2), pp.95-102, (2022). To assess the mental health and experience of sport-related harassment and abuse of elite aquatic athletes and to analyze it in relation to gender and discipline. A quarter (24.6%) of the 377 responding athletes were classified as depressed and 2.5% as having an eating disorder. More than 40% of the athletes stated that they wanted or needed psychotherapeutic support. Fifty-one athletes (14.9%) had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves, and 31 (9%) had witnessed it in another athlete. The experiences of harassment and abuse ranged from unwanted comments about body or appearance (40.2%) to rewards in sport for sexual favors (2.5%) and rape (0.3%). Athletes who had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves had higher average scores for depression and eating disorders, and more of them felt they needed psychotherapeutic support. Up to a third would not talk or report to anybody if they saw or experienced harassment/abuse, and less than 20% would talk to an official for help.
- Body shaming and associated practices as abuse: athlete entourage as perpetrators of abuse, opens in a new tab, Jenny McMahon, Kerry R. McGannon, Catherine Palmer, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 27(5), pp.578-591, (2022). In the 2016 International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on harassment and abuse, it was outlined that psychological abuse in sport research has been heavily focused on the coach–athlete relationship resulting in a lack of research on other members of the athletes’ support system such as their ‘entourage.’ Researchers of abuse have further noted that psychological abuse remains relatively underexplored in comparison to other types of athlete abuses (e.g. sexual abuse). As psychological abuse is one of the most common types of abuse occurring in sporting contexts, it has been flagged as an urgent safeguarding concern. Psychological abuse can be enacted in different ways with many associated behaviours. The present study explored one under-researched issue shown to be entrenched in sport culture – ‘body shaming’ – and how it constitutes psychological abuse. We also focused on the role of the athlete entourage (i.e. people associated with the athlete) in relation to psychological abuse through the body shaming of athletes. Using thematic analysis, three female athletes’ stories showed how they were subjected to psychological abuse from members of their entourage when their bodies failed to meet socio-cultural expectations (i.e. too fat, not ‘slim to win’). While it was not the central focus of our research, the athletes also explained how they were subjected to physical abuse and physical neglect from entourage members when they were perceived to be overweight or too fat. The athlete entourage members found to be perpetrators of abuse and physical neglect included the coach, the parent, the partner, and the manager. This research provides novel insight into how abuse is circulating through sporting contexts, and in so doing, generates knowledge for prevention and intervention initiatives in sport.
- Listening to Athletes' Voices: National Team Athletes' Perspectives on Advancing Safe Sport in Canada, opens in a new tab, Erin Willson, Gretchen Kerr, Anthony Battaglia, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 4, (2022). If safe sport initiatives are to benefit athletes, consideration and incorporation of athletes' perspectives in the development and implementation of initiatives are imperative. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine athletes' perspectives on the challenges and recommendations to advancing safe sport. As part of a large-scale survey of current and retired Canadian National Team Athletes' experiences of maltreatment, open-ended questions were asked about athletes' recommendations and considerations for safe sport. Responses to these questions (n = 386) were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the participants, barriers and challenges to safe sport included emphasizing performance excellence at-all-costs, normalization and complicity of harm, lack of attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, a culture of fear and silence, and a lack of trust in organizations to handle cases of harm. In an effort to advance safe sport, participants recommended prioritizing holistic athlete development, improving and strengthening accountability measures, implementing an independent 3rd party for disclosure, reporting and support, increased attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, stakeholder education, prohibition of sexual relations between athletes and those in positions of power and authority, and adoption of a broader perspective of harms and perpetrators. Findings are interpreted and critiqued in light of previous literature and recommendations for future research and practice are suggested.
- SafeSport: Perceptions of Harassment and Abuse From Elite Youth Athletes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne 2020, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Vertommen, Tine; Tercier, Stephane, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(3), pp.297-305, (2022). To analyze the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2020 athletes' understanding and perceptions of harassment and abuse in sport and their knowledge of reporting mechanisms. The survey response rate of athletes attending the Safe Sport Booth was 69%. When asked to define Safe Sport, 10% of athletes at the YOG2020 correctly identified a sport environment free from harassment and abuse, 20% identified fair play/antidoping, and 19% safety. When presented with the definition of harassment and abuse, 30.4% expressed surprise, in contrast to 46% in the summer YOG2018. A third (32%) reported that harassment and abuse was either “likely” or “very likely” present in their sport, which was similar to the YOG2018 (34%). The group of athletes not knowing where to go to report harassment and abuse was greater than in the YOG2018 (26% vs 11%). There were no differences in responses between competitive sex (boys' vs girls' events) or type of sport (team vs individual).
- Elite athletes’ experiences of interpersonal violence in organized sport in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, opens in a new tab, Jeannine Ohlert, Tine Vertommen, Bettina Rulofs, et al. European Journal of Sport Science, volume 21(4), pp.604-613, (2021). Interpersonal violence in sport occurs in different forms, from emotional abuse, overtraining, bullying, physical aggression and pressuring to punishment and sexual abuse. Due to the use of different definitions, a comparison of prevalence estimates between studies in different countries has not been possible to date. The aim of the current study was thus to present the prevalence estimates of interpersonal violence in elite sport for the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders), and Germany and to examine the overlap of three types of interpersonal violence. Data from two different surveys (one in the Netherlands and Flanders and another in Germany) of a total of 1,665 elite athletes (n = 533 from the Netherlands and Flanders, n = 1,132 from Germany) were used. Athletes were asked to answer questions about their experiences of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in the context of organized sport. In general, lifetime prevalence estimates for all three types of interpersonal violence are more than 24% in elite athletes, with the highest numbers for psychological violence. Compared to representative population samples the prevalence rate of psychological violence seems to be particularly high. Gender differences were only evident for sexual violence, with female athletes showing higher prevalence estimates than male athletes. Furthermore, a high overlap of experiences of the three different forms of interpersonal violence was found for all three countries. The differences in prevalence estimates between the three countries are discussed.
- Sporting Women and Social Media: Sexualization, Misogyny, and Gender-Based Violence in Online Spaces, opens in a new tab, Emma Kavanagh, Chelsea Litchfield, Jaquelyn Osborne, International Journal of Sport Communication, Volume 12(4), pp.552-572, (2019). This study investigated gender-based violence targeting high-profile women in virtual environments through the case of women’s tennis. 2 popular social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) were analyzed to examine social commentary and fan interaction surrounding the top-5-seeded female tennis players during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Athletes were exposed to violent interactions in a number of ways. Four themes were identified through data analysis: threats of physical violence, sexualization that focused on the female physical appearance, sexualization that expressed desire and/or proposed physical or sexual contact, and sexualization that was vile, explicit, and threateningly violent in a sexual or misogynistic manner. Findings demonstrate how social media provides a space for unregulated gender-based cyberhate targeting high-profile women in their workplace in a way that traditional sport media does not.
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