Validating the Maltreatment in Sport Scale

As a follow-up to a prevalence study on maltreatment in sport among Canadian athletes (Willson et al., 2022), this project seeks to validate a maltreatment in sport survey. The intention is to partner with Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom to conduct a similar study assessing rates of maltreatment rates in high-performance athletes training at the High-Performance Centre in Sheffield. This study will assess rates of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, harassment, and discrimination to inform prevention and intervention strategies. By developing and owning a validated scale to measure maltreatment in sport, the University of Toronto will gain a robust tool that can be used to inform policy, improve practices, and support research initiatives. This scale will position Canada as a leader in safe sport research and innovation, offering a resource that can be adapted for global use while maintaining Canadian intellectual property. Additionally, this project will benefit the host institution as they will have access to the survey and assess rates of maltreatment among high-performance athletes in the United Kingdom. Maltreatment is a significant concern for athletes’ well-being and mental health thus this study will contribute to advancing safe sport efforts in Canada and internationally.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gretchen Kerr

Student:

Partner:

Sheffield Hallam University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public Service, Policy, and Governance; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: