‘First, do no harm’: conducting research on interpersonal violence in sport

Abstract

It was Hippocrates who stated ‘First, do no harm’, and we believe the sentiment of this medical principle is one that every researcher should embody when conducting research on interpersonal violence (IV) in sport. Conducting such research presents unique considerations for researchers, particularly in relation to supporting participant and researcher well-being. Similarly, approaching this sensitive topic with clear definitions of IV in sport and an understanding of trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC) is paramount to the protection and care of everyone involved in the research. The landscape for researching IV in sport that has rapidly emerged to investigate its determinants from various lenses including ethical, sociological, psychological, criminological and organisational.1 2 The siloed nature of research on IV in sport also has led to inconsistency in terminology, hindering effective communication and collaboration within and outside the field. The terms used to describe and study IV in sport have a profound impact on how the problem is communicated and understood. The use of diverging definitions creates challenges for determining what is within or outside the scope of research, limits our ability to meaningfully compare prevalences and experiences reported across projects, and impacts methodological considerations such as the effective recruitment of participants. Currently, terms such as maltreatment, non-accidental violence, harm, harassment, abuse and IV are used interchangeably, and clarification on the use of terminologies is essential. This paper aligns with the latest International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement1 and the WHO’s typology of violence3 and focuses on ‘ interpersonal violence’, which differs from self-directed and collective violence (box 1). Box 1 ### Glossary with operationalised definitions of interpersonal violence in sport