Characteristics and consequences of sexual violence experiences in sport differ when comparing peers and coaches as offenders

Jeannine Ohlert, Thea Rau, Marc Allroggen

Publication: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution - Published abstract for conference with selection processResearchpeer-review

Abstract

A recent German survey (Allroggen et al., 2016) has found that sexual violence in German sport is not only exerted by coaches and other responsible persons, but also by other athletes (peers). Still, it is unknown if these instances follow the same pattern as instances exerted by coaches, or if there are differences in the characteristics and/or consequences of these experiences. The aim of the current study was thus to do a comparison of these two groups of perpetrators within a sample of elite athletes. In total, 1529 German elite athletes took part in an online survey on sexual violence in sport; from 322 athletes, details on their sexual violence experiences of various kinds were available. Results show that sexual violence exerted by peers was more often (1) a “hands off” situation, (2) involving more than one person, (3) involving female offenders, and (4) happening in clubs or sport (boarding) schools. Sexual violence by coaches or other responsible persons (i.e., second or specialty coach, physiotherapist, doctor or sport psychologist of the team) did more often (1) happen at an Olympic Training Center, (2) involve transgressions or “hands on” situations, and (3) lead to a sport break or change of the training group. No differences could be found regarding consequences on wellbeing and disclosure. To conclude, it becomes evident that sexual violence experiences from different groups of offenders in sport follow different patterns and thus should be considered separately when it comes to the development of preventive measures and interventions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAbstract book : 50 years of FEPSAC. 15th European congress of sport & exercise psychology, Münster, Germany, 15-20 July 2019
EditorsBernd Strauss, Barbara Halberschmidt, Till Utesch, Dennis Dreiskämper, Sebastian Brückner, Maike Tietjens, Vera Storm, Linda Schücker, Friederike Rosenfeld, Charlotte Raue, Stijn Mentzel, Meike Kolb, Lena Henning, Lena Busch
Number of pages1
Place of PublicationMünster
Publication date2019
Pages313
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventFEPSAC 2019 - 15th European congress of sport & exercise psychology: Building the future of sport & exercise psychology - Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
Duration: 15.07.201920.07.2019
Conference number: 15
https://www.fepsac2019.eu/

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