| Popis: |
ObjectiveTo assess the mental health and experience of sport-related harassment and abuse of athletes participating in the FINA World Championships 2019, and to analyse it in relation to gender and the aquatic disciplines.DesignCross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire.MethodsDuring the Championships, registered athletes (swimmers, divers, high divers, water polo players, artistic swimmers, open-water swimmers) completed a survey including the main outcome measures of depression (CES-D-10), eating disorders (BEDA-Q), the subjective need for psychotherapeutic support, and the experience of harassment and/or abuse in their sports environment.ResultsA quarter of the athletes (n=62, 24.6%) were classified as depressed and more than a third (n=111, 35.0%) as having an eating disorder. More than 40% of the athletes stated that they wanted or needed psychotherapeutic support for mental health problems. Fifty-one athletes (14.9%) had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves, and 31 (9%) had witnessed it in another athlete. The experiences of harassment and abuse ranged from unwanted comments about body or appearance (40.2%) to rewards in sport for sexual favours (2.5%) and rape (0.3%). Athletes who had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves had higher average scores for depression and eating disorders, and more of them needed psychotherapeutic support. Up to a third would not talk to anybody if they saw or experienced harassment/abuse, and less than 20% would talk to an official for help.ConclusionTargeted initiatives are required to address the burden of mental health issues and harassment and abuse in sport in the FINA aquatic disciplines. |
