Sexual Violence Against Children in Sports and Exercise: A Systematic Literature Review

Ingunn Bjørnseth · Attila Szabó

128 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Child Sexual Abuse

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Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies Child Abuse and Trauma Military, Security, and Education Studies

Abstract

Sexual violence against children in sports receives little research attention. The aim of this Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-based systematic literature review was to synthesize the up-to-date knowledge and identify the already known and the still unknown information in this area. The literature search yielded seven eligible studies for inclusion. Their key outcomes suggest that sexual violence against children in sports is prevalent. Girls are more often the victims than boys, but gender appears to mediate the disclosure. Minority groups are at higher risk for sexual violence, and athletes at higher levels of competition seem to be more vulnerable for grooming. While the coach is often seen as the perpetrator, new research suggests that peer-athletes may precede the coach. Disclosure is a problem, due to personal and interpersonal concerns, which deters scholastic research in this area. In the final section of the review, a "what we know" and "what we need to know" list of highlights is offered as the concluding summary of the review. These factual points could raise the awareness of parents and/or guardians about the vulnerability of their children to sexual abuse if they are involved in sports. They could also attract the attention of the policy makers to the urgent need of developing and implementing preventive measures to make sports and exercise environments pleasurable and safe for children.

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References

2009The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration 2004Democracy Barometer. Methodology. Version 4.2011A Global Perspective on Child Sexual Abuse: Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Around the World 2011Testing the reliability and efficiency of the pilot Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for systematic mixed studies review 2003Prevalence and psychological sequelae of self-reported childhood physical and sexual abuse in a general population sample of men and women 1990An Integrated Theory of the Etiology of Sexual Offending 2007How to Write a Systematic Review 2016International Olympic Committee consensus statement: harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport

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2020Elite athletes’ experiences of interpersonal violence in organized sport in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium 2022Psychological, Physical, and Sexual Violence Against Children in Australian Community Sport: Frequency, Perpetrator, and Victim Characteristics 2020A review of emotional and sexual abuse of elite child athletes by their coaches 2021Sexual Violence and the Coach–Athlete Relationship—a Scoping Review From Sport Sociological and Sport Psychological Perspectives

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