Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Kinesiology and Physical Education

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Alanna Harman

Advisor Role

Advisor

Abstract

Athlete maltreatment is a pervasive issue in Canadian sport with high prevalences both in community and high-performance sport (Parent & Vaillancourt-Morel, 2021; Wilson et al., 2022). Large discrepancies exist between athletes who experience maltreatment and those who report (Parent & Vaillancourt-Morel, 2021). Parents play a critical role in initiating formal disclosures for child maltreatment in sport, thus the purpose of this study was to understand parents’/guardians’ perceptions of maltreatment behaviour, intentions to report, and their trust in their organization to manage maltreatment at the community sport level.

In total, 74 participants completed an anonymous online survey consisting of both Likert-type scale and open text responses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings indicate physical, psychological, and neglectful forms of maltreatment are the most frequently witnessed, with few parents witnessing sexual maltreatment. Most parents recognized maltreatment as never appropriate, with sexual harm being the most easily identified form of maltreatment. Physical, psychological, and neglectful forms of maltreatment were less frequently identified as never appropriate. Parents expressed lower intentions to report maltreatment with qualitative responses highlighting barriers for not formally reporting maltreatment. Further, about half of parents/guardians would trust their child’s sport organization to manage maltreatment disclosures adequately, with qualitative findings highlighting both facilitators and barriers for organizational trust. This study provides practical implications for community sport practitioners, recognizing the benefit of education on reporting processes to facilitate disclosure and enhance trust in community sport organizations to manage disclosures of maltreatment.

Convocation Year

2026

Convocation Season

Fall

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Available for download on Sunday, July 29, 2029

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