Sexual Harassment and Abuse among Young Elite Athletes, Recreational Athletes, and Reference Students: A Prospective Study.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	SØLVBERG, NINA TORSTVEIT, MONICA KLUNGLAND ROSENVINGE, JAN H. PETTERSEN, GUNN SUNDGOT-BORGEN, JORUNN
Copyright Year	2022
Abstract	ABSTRACTPurposeThis study aimed to examine the 12-month prevalence and 12-month prospective change in reported sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) victimization among young elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students in three different social settings and to identify the perpetrators.MethodsIn total, 919 adolescents responded to an online questionnaire in 12th grade (T1) and 13th grade (T2). The sample consisted of elite athletes (n = 482) and recreational athletes (n = 233) attending Norwegian elite sport high schools (n = 26), and reference students (n = 200) attending ordinary high schools with no sport specialization (n = 6). Data were analyzed using independent-sample t-test, Pearson χ2 for independence/Fisher’s exact test, McNemar test, and logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe total 12-month prevalence of SHA was 38.6% at T1 and 35.1% at T2. Most of the participants (74.6%–85.0%) reported no change in SHA from T1 to T2. The prevalence of SHA was higher for girls compared with boys, and elite athletes reported less SHA than recreational athletes and reference students, respectively. SHA occurred most often in a free time setting. Verbal sexual harassment, nonverbal sexual harassment, and physical SHA were reported by 24.6%, 27.0%, and 14.0%, respectively. Peers were reported as perpetrators by 83.1%, trainer/teacher/health personnel by 20.1%, and “other” perpetrators by 56.4%.ConclusionsBecause one in three elite athletes and nearly one in two recreational athletes and reference students, respectively, reported SHA victimization within a 12-month period, well-targeted preventive measures are needed for both young athletes and nonathletes.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC9584052&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	01959131
Journal	Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise [Med Sci Sports Exerc]
Volume Number	54
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9584052
Issue Number	11
PubMed reference number	35763597
e-ISSN	15300315
DOI	10.1249/mss.0000000000002972
Language	English
Publisher	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Publisher Date	2022-06-24
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Subject Keyword	ADOLESCENTS CONTROLS PERPETRATORS PREVALENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE SPORT
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Sports Science