Mid Sweden University

This study concerns the experiences and feelings students in intermediate school gain from the changing room to sports class. It is a qualitative study with a socio-cultural approach, which has been analysed in a hermeneutic way. The students’ voices have been heard through interviews and questionnaires, and furthermore, to get a broader perspective, adults working in school, have also been interviewed. The study shows that many children feel discomfort without clothes in the changing room, furthermore that the absence of adults in this room may add to exercise of power amongst the student, like abuse, direct- and indirect threats or to exclude someone from the group. As a result, this could lead to consequences like students absence from school, lies and feelings of guilt. It could also influence other subjects in school if the absence is high or if the student has difficulties in concentrating in other subjects due to anxiety. The study also shows how important it is for all adults present in school to be observant and sensitive to what students say or to how they react in different situations since bullying and abuse is hard to talk about.