Sexual harassment in sport: a systematic review of risk factors, theoretical frameworks, and prevention strategies (2020–2025)

Sexual harassment (SH) remains a persistent safeguarding problem in sport, yet recent research highlights that its drivers operate simultaneously across structural, cultural, interpersonal, and situational levels. To clarify current knowledge in this rapidly developing field, this review synthesizes studies published between 2020 and 2025 examining risk factors, theoretical interpretations, and emerging prevention strategies in sport settings. Four frameworks (e.g., feminist theory, organizational culture theory, intersectionality, and routine activity theory) provided the analytical foundation for integrating recent evidence. Across studies, SH risk is elevated in environments characterized by power asymmetries, hypermasculine norms, weak guardianship, compromised reporting mechanisms, and limited institutional accountability. Prevention approaches increasingly emphasize independent safeguarding structures, improved organizational oversight, differentiated protections for marginalized groups, and situational measures that reduce opportunity for harm. This review contributes a consolidated analysis of contemporary findings and outlines implications for designing multi-level, theory-informed strategies to strengthen athlete safety in both physical and digital sport environments.