Analysis of the Intersection between Safeguarding Policies and Mental Health Challenges among Elite Women Athletes in the Olympic Movement

The International Olympic Committee underscores every athlete's right to participate in 'safe sport' which is defined by an environment rooted in respect, equity, and freedom from non-accidental violence. These environments encourage better mental health literacy, normalize mental health experiences, and foster a greater willingness to seek help. In contrast, psychologically unsafe environments can lead to negative mental health outcomes, harming athletes' overall well-being.

Addressing psychological harassment and abuse-forms of non-accidental violence-is critical due to the severe physical, social, and psychological impacts on athletes. Safeguarding measures, educational programs, and strong reporting procedures are essential in preventing harmful behaviours and promoting help-seeking, ultimately enhancing mental health in sports.

This project recognizes the importance of protecting athletes from psychological harm and delves into the intersection of safeguarding policies and mental health among elite women athletes in the Olympic movement. The objective of this study is to identify gaps in safeguarding policies that address mental health challenges and overall well-being among elite women athletes in the Olympic movement.

It aims to find effective strategies for creating a safe and supportive environment while proposing targeted interventions. The research focus on assessing how current policies meet the unique mental health needs of elite women athletes and highlight deficiencies that may exacerbate these challenges.

Additionally, it seeks to understand athletes' perceptions of the effectiveness of these policies and identify areas for improvement. Finally, the study will explore athletes' experiences with mental health challenges in the high-performance, competitive context of the Olympic movement. The theoretical framework integrates Occupational Health and Safety as a foundational lens, emphasizing the importance of athletes' mental health and well-being in elite sports workplace.

It incorporates Intersectionality and Feminist Theories to examine how gender, ethnicity, and sociocultural factors influence mental health outcomes. Additionally, Policy Diffusion Theory offers insights into the dissemination and effectiveness of safeguarding policies related to mental health. Together, these theories explore the relationship between psychological safety in elite sports environments and its impact on mental health outcomes.

The study will examine data from elite athletes across prominent National Olympic Committees (NOCs) worldwide, to provide a global perspective on elite athletes' experiences. The project will involve analysis of existing safeguarding policies within the Olympic movement, focusing on how well these policies address mental health and well-being for elite women athletes.

By developing evaluative criteria, the research will assess the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of these policies, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. The study will also include qualitative interviews with elite women athletes to explore their personal experiences with mental health challenges, examining the role of organizational culture, support systems, and communication.

Additionally, the research will compare mental health experiences across different sports and NOCs, identifying best practices in environments with positive mental health outcomes and evaluating the impact of policy changes on athlete well-being.

This research aims to fill significant gaps in safeguarding policies by focusing on the overlooked psychological harm experienced by athletes, particularly in elite women athletes. The findings will provide critical insights for developing more comprehensive policies and support systems that promote mental health and psychological safety in the Olympic movement.