Why do athletes deny abuse in sports? Qualitative analysis of reasons and consequences of denial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fereshteh Mohebbi 1
rasool Nowruzi Seyyed Hosseini 1
Marjan Saffari 1
hosein Aghaeeniya 2
1 Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Criminology, Faculty of Law and Politics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ntsmj.2024.2038179.1115
Abstract
Sports is a complex cultural and social phenomenon, in addition to physical activities, includes various harassments that cannot be denied. Therefore, it is very important to have accurate information in the follow-up and prevention of these issues. The purpose of this research is to identify the reasons for denying abuse and the consequences of abuse in sports. Using the qualitative method, data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participants in this research were professors, specialists, experts and experts in the field of abuse in sports. In order to analyze the data, the theme analysis method was used. The findings of this research show that the reasons for denying abuse in sports include socio-cultural problems, maintaining organizational credibility, difficult follow-up, threats to follow up, fear of scandal, rejection from the family and Character weakness. Also, the consequences of denying abuse in sports include the continuation of abuse, the destruction of the organization, normalization, various injuries to the athlete, difficulty in prevention and treatment, and committing in another place and time. Establishing a reliable system for receiving such reports and emphasizing the confidentiality of this information can make it easier to disclose abuse and prevent more serious consequences.
Keywords
Abuse
denial
emotional problems
harassment
violence
1.            Adams, C. (1994). Mothers who fail to protect their children from sexual abuse: Addressing the problem of denial. Yale L. & Pol'y Rev., 12, 519.
2.            Alaggia, R., Collin-Vézina, D., & Lateef, R. (2017). Facilitators to child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosures: A research update (2000-2016). Trauma, Violence & Abuse. Advance online publication.
3.            Ali, S., & Ali, J. (2018). Sexual Abuse of Women and Its Impact: Psychosexual Perspectives. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. Sci, 8(5), 1-1.
4.            Al-Saif, D. M., Al-Eissa, M., Saleheen, H., Al-Mutlaq, H., Everson, M. D., & Almuneef, M. A. (2018). Professionals’ attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Child Sex Abuse, 27, 22–37.
5.            Amini, M., Atghia, N., & Norouzi Seyed Hosseini, R. (2020). Identifying components and levels of knowledge-based economy in sport (A qualitative approach). Sport Management Studies, 12(60), 41-60.
6.             Andrew, Patrick. d; Pedersen, Paul. M; McEvoy, Chad. Research design and methods in sports management (2018). 7. Tehran: Veritas Publications. (Persian).
7.            Atabekova A, & Simonova, M.SEXUAL ABUSE IN SPORTS: WHY DO YOUNGSTERS GET TRAPPED? (TWO CASES FROM RUSSIA ACROSS 20 Th AND 21 st CENTURIES). 2018.
8.             Braun V, & Clarke, V. using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology. (2006).3(2).
9.            Cense, M., & Brackenridge, C. (2001). Temporal and developmental risk factors for sexual harassment and abuse in sport. European physical education review, 7(1), 61-79.
10.            Cooky, C. (2012). Success without honor: Cultures of silence and the Penn State scandal. Cultural. Studies ←→ Critical Methodologies, 12, 326–329.
11.            Crisp, B. R. (2010). Silence and silenced: Implications for the spirituality of survivors of sexualn abuse. Feminist Theology, 18, 277–293.
12.            Delirrad, Mohammad. (2015). Islamic Penal Code. 1. Tehran. Department of Forensic Medicine and Poisoning. 31-33-34. (Persian).
13.            Edelman, M., & Pacella, J. M. (2019). Vaulted into victims: Preventing further sexual abuse in US Olympic Sports through unionization and improved governance. Ariz. L. Rev., 61, 463.
14.            Filipas H. H., & Ullman S. E. (2001). Social reactions to sexual assault victims from various support sources. Violence and victims, 16(6), 673–692.
15.            Ghazi Tabatabai, Mahmoud et al. (2013) "National plan to investigate the phenomenon of domestic violence against women".1. Esfahan. Office of Social Affairs of the Ministry of Interior.113. (Persian).
16.            Gilani, T. M., Simbar, M., Kariman, N., Gilani, T. M., Bazzazian, S., Ghiasvand, M., Hajiesmaello, M., & Kazemi, S. (2020). Methods for prevention of sexual abuse among adolescents: a systematic review. Iranian journal of public health.
17.            Hossini, R. N. S., Ehsani, M., Kozechian, H., & Amiri, M. (2014). Review of the concept of human capital in sports with an emphasis on capability approach. American Journal of Social Sciences, 2(6), 145-151.
18.            Hartill M. "The sexual abuse of boys in organized male sports." Men and masculinities. (2009): 12(2): 225-49.
19.            Johnson, W. F., Huelsnitz, C. O., Carlson, E. A., Roisman, G. I., Englund, M. M., Miller, G. E., & Simpson, J. A. (2017). Childhood abuse and neglect and physical health at midlife: Prospective, longitudinal evidence. Development and psychopathology, 29(5), 1935-1946.
20.            Kavanagh, E., Brown, L., & Jones, I. (2017). Elite athletes' experience of coping with emotional abuse in the coach–athlete relationship. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 29(4), 402-417.
21.            Keplinger, K., Johnson, S. K., Kirk, J. F., & Barnes, L. Y. (2019). Women at work: Changes in sexual harassment between September 2016 and September 2018. PloS one, 14(7), e0218313.
22.            Koontz, J. S., Mountjoy, M., Abbott, K. E., Aron, C. M., Basile, K. C., Carlson, C. T., & Roberts, W. O. (2021). Sexual violence in sport: American medical society for sports medicine position statement. British journal of sports medicine, 55(3), 132-134.
23.            McElvaney, R. (2015). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: Delays, non-disclosure and partial dis-closure. What the research tells us and implications for practice. Child Abuse Review, 24, 159–169.
24.            McElvaney, R., & Culhane, M. (2017). A retrospective analysis of children’s assessment reports: What helps children tell? Child Abuse Review, 26, 103–115.
25.            Morrison, S. E., Bruce, C., & Wilson, S. (2018). Children’s disclosure of sexual abuse: A systematic review of qualitative research exploring barriers and facilitators. Journal of Child Sex Abuse, 27, 176–194.
26.            Mountjoy, M., Brackenridge, C., Arrington, M., Blauwet, C., Carska-Sheppard, A., Fasting, K., & Budgett, R. (2016). International Olympic Committee consensus statement: harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1019-1029.
27.            Neame, Andrea, & Heenan, Melanie (2004). Australian Institute of Family Studies briefing. Responding to sexual assault in rural communities. Australian Institute of Family Studies.
28.            Sanaei, M., Zardoshtian, S., & NORUZI, S. H. R. (2013). The effect of physical activities on quality of life and hope life in older adults of Mazandaran province.
29.            Sanderson, J., & Weathers, M. R. (2019). “Every time someone comes forward, it makes it easier for the next survivor to be heard”: Sport as a triggering agent to break the silence of child sexual abuse. Communication Quarterly, 67(3), 333-353.
30.            Schmidt, R. E., Schneeberger, A. R., & Claussen, M. C. (2022). Interpersonal violence against athletes. Sports Psychiatry.
31.            Shokri, Hashemi, & Seyed Zia. (2014). Sociological study of sexual abuse of young women. Quarterly Journal of Strategic Studies Center of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, 13(24), 141-166. (Persian).
32.            Taylor, S. C., & Norma, C. (2013, March). The ties that bind: Family barriers for adult women seeking to report childhood sexual assault in Australia. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 37, pp. 114-124). Pergamon.
33.            Terekli MS, & Çobanoglu, H. O. Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sports: In the Context of Turkey Sample Determination of Risk Factors in Relationship of Coaches and Female Athletes. Journal of Education and Training Studies. (2018).6(10):169-76.
34.            Timpka, T., Janson, S., Jacobsson, J., Kowalski, J., Ekberg, J., Mountjoy, M., & Svedin, C. G. (2014). Lifetime sexual and physical abuse among elite athletic athletes: A cross-sectional study of prevalence and correlates with athletics injury. British journal of sports medicine, 48(7), 667-667.
35.            Yabe Y, Hagiwara, Y., Sekiguchi, T., Momma, H., Tsuchiya, M., Kuroki, K., & Sogi, Y. The characteristics of coaches that verbally or physically abuse young athletes. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, (2018).244(4): 297-304.
36.            Yerevanians (2020). Rehabilitation of sexual victims in the context of community responses and criminal justice system. Public Law Research, 12(29.1), 1-24.(Persian).
37.            Yucel AS, Korkmaz, M., Karataş, Ö. Hergüner, G., Yaman, Ç. & Catıkkas, F. Determination of sexual harassment and abuse women athletes face in sports: A case study. (2014).