Psychological violence and psychological bullying among children in sports: A systematic review

Abstract

Psychologically violent behavior among children in sports is often studied within two separate silos: psychological violence (PV) and psychological bullying. This division has resulted in largely isolated fields of research and intervention. Examining the operationalization of both PV and psychological bullying together can contribute to the development of more comprehensive interventions for preventing psychologically violent behavior among children in sports. This systematic review aims to explore how qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies have operationalized and measured psychologically violent behavior in youth sports. Twenty-five publications, published between 2008 and 2022, were analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The findings highlight the need to address a broader range of psychologically violent behaviors among children in sports, including inciting peers to engage in doping practices and promoting harmful weight-gain or weight-cutting behaviors. The results suggest the importance of adopting an integrated prevention approach to tackle PV and psychological bullying in youth sports. Such an approach should consider the roles of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders, while also accounting for the influence of peer relationships and the critical need for adequate support and education. Fostering a safe sports environment requires collaborative efforts, where young athletes are encouraged to use their influence constructively, and responsibility is shared among coaches, athletes, parents, and other key stakeholders within the sports community.