Purpose
Limited knowledge about the scope of sexual harassment and abuse in and outside sports, methodological limitations in the current base of literature, and increased public interest covering this theme, highlight the need for more research.
The purpose of the study was to examine:
- The prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in and outside sports, and who the perpetrators are
- The association between experienced sexual harassment and mental health
- If the participants disclose about their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse, and awareness and use of reporting systems and support mechanisms in school
- The participants' suggestions to prevent sexual harassment
Project description
Students in 12th grade at elite sport high schools in Norway and a representative sample of students from regular high schools in Oslo and Viken were invited to answer a questionnaire autumn 2019/spring 2020 and autumn 2020/spring 2021. The questionnaire consisted of questions about background information, lifestyle and training/sport, sexual harassment and mental health. Principles/leaders at the attending schools, in addition to trainers with more than 20 % employment status at elite sport high schools, were also asked to answer a questionnaire at the first measurement point (autumn 2019/spring 2020). A sample of students who reported experiences with sexual harassment in the questionnaire, and a random sample of leaders and trainers, were also invited to an individual interview.
Results
Article 1 is published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Main findings: Two out of five young people reported experiences of sexual harassment or assault during a 12-month period. Elite athletes reported less sexual harassment and abuse than broad sports athletes and reference students. Girls reported more sexual harassment and abuse than boys. Most situations occurred in a leisure context. Verbal and non-verbal forms of sexual harassment were more common than physical sexual harassment and abuse.