TITLE:
Abuse Experiences and Physical Self-Perceptions of Para Athletes in Greece
AUTHORS:
Amira Fetoui, Emmanouil Skordilis
KEYWORDS:
Para Sport, Athletes with Disabilities, Disabled Athletes, Abuse Experience, Interpersonal Violence, Physical Self-Perception, Abuse in Sport, Safeguarding in Sport, Gender Differences, Disability Type
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.15 No.2,
May
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: The present study examined: a) The abuse experiences in a sample of athletes with disabilities in Greece; b) The athletes’ physical self-perceptions and their respective association with the incidence of abuse experiences; c) The influence of certain demographic factors (e.g. gender, type of disability) on both abuse experiences and physical self-perceptions. The Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) and the Interpersonal Violence against Children in Sport (IViS) were used. Both scales have been used and validated worldwide. A total of 58 Greek athletes with physical disabilities or visual impairments were selected to collect data on the three types of abuse experience (IViS) and the seven factors of the physical self-perception profile (PSPP). The two scales were further administered to a control sample of 56 non-disabled University students in the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The University students were regularly involved in physical activity and were perceived as control athletes. Contrary to the expectations, the analyses revealed no significant differences between athletes with and without disabilities in terms of abuse experiences or physical self-perceptions, indicating more similarities than differences between the groups. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed no significant association between abuse experience and physical self-perception. However, gender and disability type influenced abuse outcomes: females and individuals with visual impairments reported higher levels of abuse experiences compared to males and those with physical disabilities. The present findings may provide valuable insights for safeguarding persons with disability within the sports sector. They further underscore the need for organizations, coaches, and policymakers to establish inclusive, protective environments in sports for athletes with and without disabilities.