Abstract
This study assessed the prevalence of maltreatment experienced by Canadian National Team athletes. In total, 995 athletes participated in this study, including current athletes and athletes who had retired in the past 10 years. An anonymous online survey was administered, consisting of questions about experiences of psychological, physical, and sexual harm, and neglect, as well as questions about identity characteristics, when the harm was experienced, and who perpetrated the harm. Neglect and psychological harm were most frequently reported, followed by sexual harm and physical harm. Female athletes reported significantly more experiences of all forms of harm. Retired athletes reported significantly more neglect and physical harm. Athletes reportedly experienced more harmful behaviors during their time on the national team than before joining a national team. Coaches were the most common perpetrators of all harms except for sexual harm, which was most frequently perpetrated by peers. This study highlighted the prevalence with which Canadian National Team athletes reportedly experience harmful behaviors in sport, suggesting the need for preventative and intervention initiatives.
Highlights
Despite high-profile and disturbing cases of athlete maltreatment, such as the case of Nassar, a USA Gymnastics team doctor who was convicted of sexually assaulting over 150 minors (Levinson, 2018), empirical work on the maltreatment of athletes is in its infancy
Researchers have proposed that the lack of empirical work on athlete maltreatment is attributable to assumptions of sport as a moral oasis (Brackenridge, 2001) or the assumed essential goodness and purity of sport (Coakley, 2011)
This study indicated the prevalence with which Canadian National Team athletes reportedly experienced various forms of harm
Summary
Despite high-profile and disturbing cases of athlete maltreatment, such as the case of Nassar, a USA Gymnastics team doctor who was convicted of sexually assaulting over 150 minors (Levinson, 2018), empirical work on the maltreatment of athletes is in its infancy. Research on sexual abuse of athletes began a few decades ago and empirical work on psychological abuse is emerging but research on physical abuse and neglect is lacking. Relational maltreatment includes sexual, physical and psychological abuse, and neglect. Examples of sexual abuse in sport include sexual relationships between a coach and underaged athlete, and inappropriate touching (Stirling, 2009). Psychological abuse in sport can include: verbal behaviors, such as repeated demeaning or humiliating comments; physical behaviors, including throwing objects; and denial of attention or support, such as intentionally ignoring an athlete for poor performance (Stirling & Kerr, 2008). Nonrelational maltreatment, which does not occur within a critical relationship, includes harassment (e.g., derogatory comments by a superior), and bullying (e.g., spreading rumors about teammates) (Stirling, 2009)
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