Interpersonal Violence in Elite U.S. Athletes: Prevalence and Mental Health Correlates

Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence of interpersonal violence (IV) experienced by elite U.S. athletes. Athletes were surveyed about experiences of emotional, physical, sexual violence, and deprivation of food or water, as well as questions about mental health indices, identity characteristics, and who perpetrated the harm. Of the total sample, 57.8% reported experiencing some form of IV in sport. Most athletes who experienced IV experienced multiple forms with a large overlap between emotional abuse and other forms of violence. A significant relationship was found between reporting any form of IV and having been diagnosed with one or more psychiatric disorders – particularly anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. IV was also significantly associated with self-reported eating disorders. A particularly strong association was found between reporting being deprived of food in sport and reporting an eating disorder. This study reveals a critical need for more research focused on the traumatic effects of IV in sport. The potential for detrimental effects on athletes' mental health also underscores the need for improvements in the prevention and early detection of IV in sport.