Files and links (1)
Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Applying a systems thinking lens to child sexual abuse in sport: an analysis of investigative report findings and recommendations
Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol.165, pp.1-13
2025
PMID: 40373501
Abstract
Background
Sporting organisations and governing bodies are facing increased pressure to prevent child sexual abuse (CSA) in sport. This has led to an increase in investigative reports into CSA that include recommendations on how sporting organisations could improve child safeguarding. Current peer reviewed literature on the prevention of CSA in sport, indicates that the majority of research has been on interventions at the levels of the victim and perpetrator, rather than on broader components of the sports system. However, it is not clear whether this is the case in investigative reports.
Objective
The aim of this study was to analyse investigative reports into CSA in five Australian sports (Swimming, Cricket, Gymnastics, Football, and Tennis), to evaluate the extent to which a systems thinking approach was adopted to understand the broader systemic factors enabling CSA in sport.
Method
Factors enabling CSA detailed in the reports, as well as their accompanying recommendations, were mapped to a systems thinking-based framework. The identified enabling factors and recommendations were then evaluated to determine the extent to which a whole of systems focus had been adopted in the investigative reports.
Results
In total, 30 enabling factors to CSA were identified, with the majority focused at the higher levels of the sports system (e.g., Governance, Policy, Reporting/Handling issues etc.). This contrasts with the peer reviewed literature.
Conclusions
The findings indicate that the identified enabling factors to CSA align with a systems thinking approach, whereas the recommendations to safeguarding partially adhere to the tenets of system thinking.
Details
- Title
- Applying a systems thinking lens to child sexual abuse in sport: an analysis of investigative report findings and recommendations
- Authors
- Karl Dodd (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems SciencePaul M. Salmon - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceColin Solomon - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceScott McLean - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
- Publication details
- Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol.165, pp.1-13
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107488
- ISSN
- 1873-7757; 0145-2134
- PMID
- 40373501
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Grant note
- Karl Dodd was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991130098302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
2 File views/ downloads
60 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Web Of Science research areas
- Family Studies
- Psychology, Social
- Social Work
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites