Ungdomsledares uppfattning om sport som brottsprevention för ungdomar : En kvalitativ studie utifrån teorin om sociala band

Sammanfattning: Juvenile delinquency is considered a serious problem and there are a number of risk factors that in various combinations are associated with a risk of involvement in criminal behavior among young people. The problem calls for measures, measures that influence attitudes and behaviors that reduce the propensity to commit crimes. Sports have many advantages, but can it prevent crimes? The purpose of this study was to study youth leaders' perceptions of sports as crime prevention for young people, based on the theory of social bonds. We conducted eight individual, semi-structured, digital interviews with youth leaders of several years experience from leading youths in sports, using a deductive approach. We analyzed the data with theoretical thematic analysis and identified the four elements of the social bond theory as themes. The result was presented accordingly. In the youth leaders’ perceptions, sport is a commitment in which youths invest time and energy (involvement) and which contributes to an attachment to people, which in length strengthens youths’ belief that society's rules are legitimate. According to the youth leaders, sport can strengthen the social bonds and thus prevent crime among young people. However, it is necessary that the adults, particularly the youth leaders, ensure that the sport is an environment that promotes prosocial attitudes and values.