Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Athletics Research Center, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
J Sports Sci. 2024 Sep;42(18):1673-1684. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2405791. Epub 2024 Sep 28.
This study examined the prevalence of non-accidental violence, focusing on experienced harassment and abuse (HA), and mental health among current and retired Swedish competitive cheerleaders. An online survey was distributed to current and retired athletes in the Swedish cheerleading federation. The survey assessed perceived coach-athlete relationship, sport psychological safety, resilience, mental health, and experienced HA within the cheerleading environment. A total of 284 athletes (men = 5; women = 278; gender not disclosed = 1; current athletes = 211; retired athletes = 73) completed the survey. Psychological abuse was the most frequently reported HA form (current athletes = 21.6%; retired athletes = 53.5%), followed by neglect (current athletes = 5.4%; retired athletes: 26.8%) and physical abuse (current athletes = 3.9%; retired athletes = 12.7%). A high-quality coach-athlete relationship was identified as a protective factor for HA. Additionally, 33.1% and 8.9% of participants displayed scores indicating anxiety and depression caseness, while 63.8% reported a high level of wellbeing. Anxiety/depression scores above clinical cut-off were linked to injury episodes and a high level of wellbeing to a mentally healthy environment. Resilience was found to protect mental health overall. The high occurrence of reported psychological abuse and indications of anxiety/depression related to injury episodes suggest a need of attention towards prevention and athlete protection strategies in cheerleading environments.
本研究调查了非意外伤害的普遍性，重点关注现役和退役的瑞典竞技啦啦队运动员所经历的骚扰和虐待（HA）以及心理健康问题。一项在线调查在瑞典啦啦队联合会中向现役和退役运动员分发。该调查评估了感知到的教练-运动员关系、运动心理安全、韧性、心理健康以及啦啦队环境中经历的 HA。共有 284 名运动员（男性=5；女性=278；性别未披露=1；现役运动员=211；退役运动员=73）完成了调查。心理虐待是报告最多的 HA 形式（现役运动员=21.6%；退役运动员=53.5%），其次是忽视（现役运动员=5.4%；退役运动员：26.8%）和身体虐待（现役运动员=3.9%；退役运动员=12.7%）。高质量的教练-运动员关系被确定为 HA 的保护因素。此外，33.1%和 8.9%的参与者的焦虑和抑郁得分表明存在病例，而 63.8%的参与者报告了高水平的幸福感。高于临床临界值的焦虑/抑郁分数与受伤事件有关，而高水平的幸福感与心理健康的环境有关。韧性被发现可以整体保护心理健康。报告的心理虐待发生率高和与受伤事件相关的焦虑/抑郁表明，需要关注啦啦队环境中的预防和运动员保护策略。
