Mental health impacts of interpersonal violence in sports

Open AccessMental health impacts of interpersonal violence in sportsCarla Edwards, Malte Christian Claussen, and Ralph Erich SchmidtCarla EdwardsDr. Carla Edwards, MD, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Waterloo Regional Campus, 10B Victoria Street South, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, N2G 1C5edwardcd@mcmaster.cahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2256-1963 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Search for more papers by this author, Malte Christian Claussenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8415-3076 Clinic for Depression and Anxiety, PZM Psychiatry Center Münsingen AG, Münsingen, Switzerland Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland Search for more papers by this author, and Ralph Erich Schmidt Clinic for Depression and Anxiety, PZM Psychiatry Center Münsingen AG, Münsingen, Switzerland Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Switzerland Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:February 17, 2023https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000039PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInReddit SectionsMoreViolence presents in many contexts within the world of sports. It is an expected component of combat and collision sports and can occur accidentally in sports that feature high speeds or athletes competing in proximity. Non-accidental violence in sport has been defined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as maltreatment through harassment and abuse [1], which can include physical, sexual, and psychological harassment and abuse as well as neglect. Many studies refer to this type of violence as “interpersonal violence in sport” [2]. Children can experience violence from coaches, peers, and members of the athlete entourage [1]. Vertommen reported that severe sexual, physical and psychological interpersonal violence experienced in childhood was associated with more psychological distress and reduced quality of life as an adult [2].While the true prevalence of maltreatment in sports is unknown and likely underreported, one need not look far to see masses of athletes from all nations and sports emerge as survivors from years of abuse within the sport system [3, 4].Another type of violence that can be experienced by athletes and other individuals, which is not often considered in the context of the sports world, is intimate partner violence. This concept is considered more private and often occurs behind closed doors; however intimate partner violence can invade the sports world when reports are filed alleging abuse, or video emerges of an athlete assaulting their partner [5]. Normalization of violent and aggressive behavior in sports has been linked to higher rates of violence by male athletes across collegiate and professional sport, including sexual assault [6]. Connections have also been made between aggression when watching sports and violence against women [6].Mental health outcomes of intentional violence in sport may include neuropsychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders and anger management problems. More research is needed to fully elucidate and describe these risks. The mental health impacts of maltreatment in sport have been well documented [1]. These include higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, substance use disorder, eating disorders, self-harm behaviors, and dropping out of sport.The various types of violence that can occur in sports may be experienced by any athlete at any age in any sport at any level from any nation at any time. As research into the individual, environmental, and organizational risks factors that contribute to violence in sport further informs governments and sports organizations at all levels, education and policies can begin to effect change. While the culture of sport is often blamed or used as a justification for abusive or misogynistic behavior in sport, changing the culture of sport is vitally necessary to make sport a safer place overall: to work, play and watch. Safe sport initiatives must be endorsed by the highest levels of a sport organization to begin to create safer environments for all; but respect, effective communication, safety and healthy relationships at the athlete and team level will impact the greatest number of athletes and have the greater positive impact on mental health outcomes.References1 Mountjoy M, Brackenridge C, Arrington M, Blauwet C, Carska-Sheppard A, Fasting K, et al. 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Health Soc Care Community. 2022;30:e3670–e3685. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14028 First citation in articleGoogle ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 2Issue 1February 2023ISSN: 2674-0052eISSN: 2674-0052 InformationSports Psychiatry (2023), 2, pp. 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000039.© 2023The Author(s)LicensesDistributed as a Hogrefe OpenMind article under the license CC BY 4.0 ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)PDF download