Prevalence of Maltreatment Among Canadian National Team Athletes

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.

Understanding the Prevalence Rates of Interpersonal Violence Experienced by Young French-Speaking Swiss Athletes

“…Interpersonal violence (IV) against young athletes has recently been defined as violence between individuals including violence by an adult in a position of authority, such as the coach, violence between athletes, and violence by spectators ( Parent and Fortier, 2018 ). While sexual violence against young athletes is one of the more concerning threats in the media (see the scandals of Dr. Larry Nassar, who sexually abused hundreds of young American gymnasts, and Sarah Abitbol, French skater who was sexually abused by her coach during her early career), other forms of IV have also been identified, such as psychological violence (e.g., Stirling and Kerr, 2013 ), physical violence (e.g., Stafford et al, 2013 ), and neglect ( Willson et al, 2021 ). Psychological violence includes restriction of movement and patterns of belittling, denigrating, scapegoating, threatening, scaring, discriminating, ridiculing, and other non-physical forms of hostile treatment or rejection ( World Health Organization, 1999 ).…”

‘Safe Sport Is Not for Everyone’: Equity-Deserving Athletes’ Perspectives of, Experiences and Recommendations for Safe Sport

“…The proliferation of Safe Sport initiatives stemmed from high-profile cases of athlete abuses as well as various prevalence studies indicating the frequency with which athletes from various levels of sport experience harm ( Alexander et al, 2011 ; Vertommen et al, 2016 ; Parent and Vaillancourt-Morel, 2020 ; Willson et al, 2021 ). In addition to highlighting the prevalence of harmful experiences, these studies suggested that athletes in equity-deserving 2 groups experience more harm in sport.…”

“…Similarly, in a prevalence study conducted by Vertommen et al (2016) , females reported significantly more experiences of sexual violence in sport compared to males. In Canada, Willson et al (2021) explored the prevalence of maltreatment experienced by current and retired Olympic and Paralympic athletes; both current and retired female athletes reported significantly more experiences of neglect, as well as psychological, physical and sexual harm, than their male counterparts. Additionally, findings from the 2020 Athlete Culture and Climate Survey launched by the United States.…”

“…Although only a few studies have explored experiences of interpersonal violence or maltreatment among other equity-deserving groups, findings suggest that athletes who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual report more sexually harmful experiences than their heterosexual peers ( Vertommen et al, 2016 ; Willson et al, 2021 ). Additionally, prevalence studies have shown that racialized athletes report more experiences of physical harm ( Vertommen et al, 2016 ; U.S. Center for SafeSport, 2021 ; Willson et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Although only a few studies have explored experiences of interpersonal violence or maltreatment among other equity-deserving groups, findings suggest that athletes who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual report more sexually harmful experiences than their heterosexual peers ( Vertommen et al, 2016 ; Willson et al, 2021 ). Additionally, prevalence studies have shown that racialized athletes report more experiences of physical harm ( Vertommen et al, 2016 ; U.S. Center for SafeSport, 2021 ; Willson et al, 2021 ). More specifically, the U.S. Athlete Culture and Climate Survey found that Black, Asian and Multiracial athletes were more likely to experience physical harm, and Black athletes experienced nearly double the rate of inappropriate sexual contact, as well as greater experiences of sexual assault ( U.S. Center for SafeSport, 2021 ).…”