The Phenomenon of Bullying in Sports: A Literature Review

Authors

  • Wulandari Wulandari Tanjungpura University
  • Rubiyatno Rubiyatno Universitas Tanjungpura
  • Putra Sastaman B Universitas Tanjungpura

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29408/porkes.v9i3.35522

Keywords:

Bullying, sports; physical bullying; verbal bullying; cyberbullying

Abstract

Sports provide good health and psychological benefits, but also create negative environments such as bullying which is often considered normal. This study aims to analyze the forms, causal factors, and impacts of bullying in sports. This research is a literature review with literature searches through SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar using the keyword "bullying in sports". Of 645 identified articles, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that bullying in sports occurs in various forms including physical, verbal, cyber, psychological, and social, with verbal bullying being the most dominant form. This behavior is caused by individual factors (sexual orientation, physical condition), interpersonal relationships (coach-parent communication), organizational factors (authoritarian club culture, weak policies), and macrosystem factors (heteronormativity, normalization of violence). The impacts are very serious including psychological disorders (stress, anxiety, trauma), physical health disorders, decreased performance, loss of motivation, and risk of suicide. Minority groups such as LGBTQ+ athletes and athletes with disabilities face higher vulnerability. This study concludes that bullying in sports is a multidimensional problem that requires a comprehensive prevention approach through clear organizational policies, coach training, and education for all stakeholders.

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Published

2026-09-15

How to Cite

Wulandari, W., Rubiyatno, R., & Sastaman B, P. (2026). The Phenomenon of Bullying in Sports: A Literature Review. Jurnal Porkes, 9(3), 2266–2282. https://doi.org/10.29408/porkes.v9i3.35522

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