Comparison of elite athletes’ sexual violence experiences in and outside sport

Abstract

Background Research on the prevalence of sexual violence in sport mostly focuses on incidents of sexual violence that happen in the context of sport, but few studies are available that systematically target the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence in the athletes (as persons), combining experiences in sport and outside the sport system. The aim of the current study was thus to compare sexual violence experiences of elite athletes in Germany in sport with those outside sport. Methods The study was carried out in cooperation with the German Olympic and Paralympic Committee who contacted their registered elite athletes. In total, 1529 elite athletes took part in an online survey and answered questions regarding their sexual violence experiences first in the context of sport and afterwards outside the sport context. Results Results show that 54.2% of the athletes had experienced some form of sexual violence during their lifetime, 20.6% even a severe incident of sexual violence. Incidents happened more often outside sport than in sport, but 48% of the victims were affected in both areas of life, indicating a high overlap of victimization experiences. Conclusion One recommendation from our results is therefore to make even stronger efforts to protect young athletes from becoming a victim of sexual violence. In case a sport club has a person of trust in the club, it can be an important place for athletes with sexual violence experiences (no matter whether experienced inside or outside sport), so that they are being heard and helped.

Empowered, Yet Vulnerable: Motives for Sport Participation, Health Correlates, and Experience of Sexual Harassment in Female Combat-Sport Athletes

“…The conceptualization of SH in previous studies varies considerably, which complicates comparison. However, our finding is somewhat concurring with previous findings of SH within the sport context [ 53 , 54 ] but also in line with previous studies suggesting that SH is more common during leisure time than in the sport context [ 54 , 55 ]. We are not in a position to explain the higher frequency of SH during leisure time, but one possible explanation supported by the current reported main motives for engaging with this sport (i.e., empowering oneself) may be the previously reported higher vulnerability for SH among persons with low assertiveness [ 8 ].…”

Cruel optimism as organizing strategy in USA Gymnastics: The threat of high-stakes organizations in precarious times

“…Although elite sports are frequently site of sexual abuse (Ohlert, Rau, Rulofs and Allroggen, 2020), modern approaches to gymnastics, in particular, have been linked with exploitation and P e e r R e v i e w V e r s i o n 3 abuse of athletes. Underlying the sport is a common belief that coaches must adopt an authoritarian coaching style (Kerr, Barker-Ruchti, Schubring, Cervin and Nunomura, 2019) to condition athletes to deal with the physical and psychological stress of the dangerous skills they must perform (White and Bennie, 2015).…”

Exploring the Modus Operandi of Coaches Who Perpetrated Sex Offenses in Canada

“…Most studies on SA in sport have focused on victims' risk factors (Vertommen et al, 2016 ; Ohlert et al, 2020 ; Parent and Vaillancourt-Morel, 2020 ) rather than on perpetrators' characteristics and MO strategies used to commit those crimes (Kirby et al, 2000 ; Leahy et al, 2002 ; Fasting et al, 2013 ; Vertommen et al, 2017 ). The current (limited) body of knowledge on coaches' MO and behaviors is primarily derived from qualitative studies based on anecdotal accounts and case studies of victimized athletes.…”