School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Br J Sports Med. 2023 May;57(9):515-520. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105916. Epub 2023 Feb 10.
Homophobic language is common in male sport and associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes for all sport participants, but particularly for gay or bisexual youth populations. Evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce such language and mitigate harm. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a short social-cognitive educational intervention delivered by professional rugby union players in youth sport.
In a two-arm, cluster randomised controlled trial, 13 Australian youth rugby teams from 9 clubs (N=167, ages 16-20, mean 17.9) were randomised into intervention or control groups. Professional rugby players delivered the intervention in-person. Frequency of homophobic language use was measured 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the intervention. Hypothesised factors underpinning homophobic language were also measured, including descriptive (other people use), prescriptive and proscriptive injunctive norms (approval/disapproval by others), and attitudes towards the acceptability of homophobic language.
At baseline, 49.1% of participants self-reported using homophobic language in the past 2 weeks and 72.7% reported teammates using homophobic language. Significant relationships were found between this behaviour and the hypothesised factors targeted by the intervention. However, generalised estimating equations found the intervention did not significantly reduce homophobic language, or alter the associated norms and attitudes, relative to controls.
Use of professional rugby athletes to deliver education on homophobic language was not effective. Other approaches to reduce homophobic language (and other forms of discrimination) such as peer-to-peer education, and enforcement of policies prohibiting specific language by coaches, should be explored.
在男性运动中，恐同语言很常见，会对所有参与运动的人，尤其是同性恋或双性恋的青年群体，造成负面的身心健康后果。需要采取基于证据的干预措施来减少这种语言并减轻其危害。本研究评估了由职业橄榄球联盟球员在青年运动中实施的短期社会认知教育干预对减少恐同语言的有效性。
在一项两臂、整群随机对照试验中，来自 9 个俱乐部的 13 支澳大利亚青年橄榄球队（N=167，年龄 16-20 岁，平均 17.9 岁）被随机分为干预组和对照组。职业橄榄球员亲自进行干预。在干预前 2 周和干预后 2 周测量恐同语言的使用频率。还测量了支撑恐同语言的假设因素，包括描述性（其他人使用）、规范性和禁令性规范（他人的认可/不认可）以及对恐同语言可接受性的态度。
在基线时，49.1%的参与者报告在过去 2 周内使用过恐同语言，72.7%的参与者报告队友使用过恐同语言。发现这种行为与干预措施针对的假设因素之间存在显著关系。然而，广义估计方程发现，与对照组相比，干预并没有显著减少恐同语言，也没有改变相关规范和态度。
使用职业橄榄球运动员来进行恐同语言教育的效果不佳。应该探索其他方法来减少恐同语言（和其他形式的歧视），例如同伴教育，以及教练执行禁止特定语言的政策。
