Prevalence of interpersonal violence against children in sport in six European countries

Mike Hartill; Bettina Rulofs; Marc Allroggen; Stephanie Demarbaix; Rosa Diketmüller; Melanie Lang; Montserrat Martin; Ioana Nanu; Daniel Sage; Ecaterina Stativa; Jarl Kampen; Tine Vertommen

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106513

Prevalence of interpersonal violence against children in sport in six European countries

Child Abuse Negl. 2023 Dec:146:106513. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106513. Epub 2023 Nov 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Child Protection & Safeguarding in Sport, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom; Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Electronic address: hartillm@edgehill.ac.uk.
² Institute of Sociology and Gender Studies, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
³ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
⁴ Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
⁵ Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, University of Vienna, Austria.
⁶ Centre for Child Protection & Safeguarding in Sport, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom; Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
⁷ Sport and Physical Activity Research Group, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain.
⁸ National Institute for Mother and Child Health "Alessandrescu-Rusescu", Bucharest, Romania.
⁹ Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
¹⁰ Biometris, Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
¹¹ Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; International Research Network on Violence and Integrity in Sport, Antwerp, Belgium; Safe Sport Lab, Center of Expertise Care and Well-being, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.

PMID: 37931542
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106513

Abstract

Background: Investigating prevalence of child abuse in sport is a relatively new field of research, born from the need for credible data on this phenomenon.

Objective: To establish prevalence rates of interpersonal violence against children in sport in six European countries.

Participants and setting: The sample (N = 10,302) consists of individuals aged 18-30 who had participated in organized sport prior to age 18 (49.3 % male, 50 % female).

Methods: A self-report questionnaire was developed (the Interpersonal Violence Against Children in Sport Questionnaire or IVACS-Q) to measure prevalence of five categories of interpersonal violence (neglect, psychological violence, physical violence, non-contact sexual violence, and contact sexual violence) against children who participate in sport. Validation testing (published separately) showed reasonable levels of convergent and divergent validity. Prevalence rates are calculated by national context, whether inside or outside sport, and by sex (male/female).

Results: Prevalence of IVACS inside sport differed by category: psychological violence (65 %, n = 6679), physical violence (44 %, n = 4514), neglect (37 %, n = 3796), non-contact sexual violence (35 %, n = 3565), and contact sexual violence (20 %, n = 2060). Relatively small geographical differences were found. Across all categories, males (79 %, n = 4018) reported significantly more experiences inside sport than females (71 %, n = 3653) (χ²(1) = 92.507, p < .000). Strong correlations were found between experiencing violence inside and outside sport.

Conclusions: Interpersonal violence against children in sport is widespread. The sector's approach to prevention must recognize the risks to female and male children (and all children) and the additional vulnerabilities of abused children. Further comparative and longitudinal research within sport is required.

Keywords: Abuse; Children; IVACS-Q; Interpersonal violence; Prevalence; Sport.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Female
Humans
Male
Physical Abuse / psychology
Prevalence
Sex Offenses* / psychology
Sports* / psychology
Violence / psychology