Prevalence,gender differences,and perpetrators of harassment and abuse in sport: Evidence from Türkiye

Abstract

Interpersonal violence in sport constitutes a global public-health and safeguarding concern, yet national prevalence data remain limited in Türkiye. This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence of psychological abuse, physical, and sexual harassment and abuse, and neglect among Turkish athletes, examined gender differences, and described perpetrator patterns, responses, and impacts. Within this context, particular attention is given to the roles and positioning of coaches within these dynamics. A researcher-developed survey was administered to athletes under 18 (n = 1304) and 18 and over (n = 1176) across 58 national sport federations. Analyses included descriptive statistics, χ² tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Among athletes under 18, 78.9% reported psychological abuse, 50.5% physical abuse, 49.2% neglect, and 38.5% sexual at least once during their sporting careers; among athletes aged 18 and over, the respective rates were 79.0%, 49.7%, 44.3%, and 27.9%. No overall gender difference emerged among athletes under 18 across abuse types. However, among athletes aged 18 and over, women reported higher exposure to physical abuse, neglect, and sexual harassment and abuse. The most frequent response across age groups was not taking the incident seriously, and the most common impact was emotional distress. These findings provide the first national overview of harassment and abuse among athletes in Türkiye, documenting high prevalence and gender-differentiated risk, particularly among adult women. The study underscores the need for systematic safeguarding structures in sport and highlights the importance of involving key stakeholders, particularly athletes and coaches, in these processes.