Analysis of Victims' Attitude and Isolation from Sexual Harassment among Athletes in South-South State Sports Councils of Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the Prevalence and Determinants of Sexual Harassment Among Athletes in South-South States Sports Council in Nigeria. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population for the study comprised of 1,647 male and 1,274 female athletes. They give a total of 2,921 sports athletes in South-South Sports Council which spread across the six states. The sample size of the study consisted of 336 male and 262 female athletes giving a total of 598 representing 20% of athletes from each of the state Sport Council. Instrument titled “Victims Attitude and Isolation as a determinant of Sexual Harassment of Athletes Questionnaire (VAIDSHAQ)” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three research experts, all from the University of Uyo. Instrument was trial tested on 20 athletes who were not part of the research sample. Cronbach Alpha Reliability Statistics and reliability co-efficient of 0.98 was obtained. The data was analysed using simple regression to answer research questionswhile the hypothesis was tested using F-ratio in simple linear regressionat .05 levels of significance. The prevalence of victim attitudes and isolations from sexual partners are determined of sexual harassments among athletes. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended among measures that individuals with records of sexual abuse should not be admitted into the sport council in order to avoid repetition of such act. Also, that victims of sexual harassment who refuse to report the incidence should be sanctioned by the sport council when noticed.