E-Thesis 347 views 122 downloads
Promoting safe and enjoyable sporting experiences for children in Wales / MAITA FURUSA
Swansea University Author: MAITA FURUSA
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.66846
Abstract
The overall purpose of this thesis was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of young people, parents, and coaches regarding bullying, emotional abuse, and enjoyment in sport in Wales. Additionally, it aimed to explore ways to enhance safety and enjoyment in sport. Study 1 employed a...
| Published: |
Swansea University, Wales, UK
2024
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Knight, C., J.; and Love, T., D. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66846 |
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| Abstract: |
The overall purpose of this thesis was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of young people, parents, and coaches regarding bullying, emotional abuse, and enjoyment in sport in Wales. Additionally, it aimed to explore ways to enhance safety and enjoyment in sport. Study 1 employed a two-phase mixed methods explanatory sequential design to investigate the safeguarding landscape in youth sport throughout Wales. The findings revealed that emotional abuse and bullying were widespread, with peer-perpetrated bullying being the most observed and experienced. Moreover, the results indicated that young people, parents, and coaches often struggled to recognise these behaviours as emotional abuse or bullying. Instead, they attributed the prevalence of these abusive behaviours to cultural and environmental factors. Furthermore, the results also highlighted various barriers and facilitators related to intervening in cases of emotional abuse and bullying. These factors were influenced by both personal and contextual factors. Informed by Study 1, Study 2 used a grounded theory methodology to develop a substantive theory of the process through which an optimally safe and enjoyable sporting experience is created for young people in sport. The resultant theory highlighted that establishing positive relationships between young people and key individuals in a physically and developmentally safe environment was a fundamental requirement for fostering an optimally safe and enjoyable sporting experience. Achieving this required consideration of factors both in the immediate and broad sporting context. Finally, drawing on the findings of the first two studies, Study 3 employed a feasibility study design with the primary aim of developing, implementing, and evaluating the feasibility of conducting a creative educational workshop designed to enhance young people’s awareness of safeguarding, emotional abuse, bullying, and enjoyment in sport. Participants reported that the workshop helped them reflect on their own behaviour, enhanced their understanding of the consequences of bullying and emotional abuse, and provided guidance on how to report concerns. However, the results also highlighted some significant challenges in delivering the initiative. These challenges included varying levels of participant engagement with, and interest in, the creative approaches (i.e., story completion interviews and creative arts-based tasks). Another challenge was related to the group dynamics among participants. Overall, this body of research has highlighted the ongoing need to enhance understanding of emotional abuse and bullying in sport, while also ensure steps are taken by all individuals and organisations to proactively seek to enhance children’s sporting experiences. |
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| Item Description: |
A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information |
| Keywords: |
Safety, emotional abuse, bullying, enjoyment, and youth sport |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
ESRC doctoral training grant |