Trauma-Informed Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health (Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity)

This is the first book to examine trauma research in the context of sport, exercise, and health. It outlines evidence-based, trauma-informed research practices, which qualitative researchers can use when conducting trauma research to prevent causing further harm to participants while maintaining a strengths-based approach.

Featuring the trauma research of leading qualitative sport, exercise, and health researchers from around the world, each chapter showcases the contributors’ trauma research and participant context, followed by the ‘what, why, and how’ of trauma-informed research practices that were implemented. This book includes work from a wide range of contexts, including gender-based violence in sport and coaching, abuse in sport, the aftermath of abuse and violence, physical activity after spinal cord injury, trauma and limb amputation, trauma and homelessness, trauma and autistic adults, and sport for care-experienced youth. It provides researchers interested in working with populations affected by trauma with a qualitative research resource to build on, and highlights new directions in conducting trauma-informed research.

This is important reading for any researcher with an interest in trauma not only in sport, exercise, and health research but also in qualitative research contexts more broadly. It is a valuable resource for anyone working in athlete welfare, sport and exercise psychology, youth sport, sport development, physical activity and health, disability, gender, safeguarding, or social work.

Jenny McMahon is an Associate Professor in Education at the University of Tasmania, Australia. Before moving into academia, she was an elite swimmer who represented Australia at an international level, winning numerous medals. Her research centres on using qualitative methodologies such as creative analytical practices, visual methods, and narrative inquiry to explore trauma, athlete abuse, and education interventions in sport to bring about social change.

Kerry R. McGannon is a Professor in Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Laurentian University, Canada. Her research program centres qualitative methodologies (e.g., narrative inquiry, discourse analysis) to understand sport and exercise participation. Specific streams of this work explore cultural influences on identity and critical interpretations of sport and exercise. She is also Co-Editor of the journal Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.