The Coach-Athlete Relationship and Athlete Psychological Outcomes

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology
Victoria McGee * , 1 and J.D. DeFreese * , 1
View More View Less
  • 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0010
Keywords:
athlete burnout; engagement; interpersonal relationships; well-being
In Print:
Volume 13: Issue 1
Pages:
152–174
Restricted access

Purchase article

USD  $24.95

Student 1 year subscription

USD  $58.00

1 year subscription

USD  $77.00

Student 2 year subscription

USD  $110.00

2 year subscription

USD  $144.00
Subscription Offers

  • Purchase article

    USD  $24.95

  • Student 1 year subscription

    USD  $58.00

  • 1 year subscription

    USD  $77.00

  • Student 2 year subscription

    USD  $110.00

  • 2 year subscription

    USD  $144.00

This study examined associations among athlete perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship and psychological outcomes of burnout and engagement across a competitive season. We hypothesized that higher levels of the three markers of the coach-athlete relationship (closeness, commitment, and complementarity) would be negatively associated with burnout and positively associated with engagement across a sport season. American female collegiate rowers (N = 37; Mage = 19.3 years, SD = 1.18) completed online self-report assessments of study variables at four seasonal survey waves. Multilevel linear modeling analyses revealed closeness to be a significant predictor of seasonal global burnout and engagement across the season assessment period. Findings inform future research and intervention to promote engagement and deter burnout via improving coach-athlete closeness.

This project was completed while McGee was a student a the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. DeFreese is with the Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.

Address author correspondence to J.D. DeFreese at defreese@email.unc.edu.

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Cover Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

  • Acosta, V.R., & Carpenter, L.J. (2014). Women in intercollegiate sport: A longitudinal, national study thirty-seven year update 1977–2014. Women in Sport/Title IX. Retrieved from http://www.acostacarpenter.org

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385–396. PubMed ID: 6668417 doi:10.2307/2136404

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Coon, A. (2015). Predicting college women rowers’ motivation and persistence: A self-determination theory approach. (Unpublished masters thesis). Boise State University.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Curran, T., Hill, A.P., Hall, H.K., & Jowett, G.E. (2015). Relationships between the coach-created motivational climate and athlete engagement in youth sport. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37, 193–198. PubMed ID: 25996109 doi:10.1123/jsep.2014-0203

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Curran, T., Hill, A.P., Ntoumanis, N., Hall, H.K., & Jowett, G.E. (2016). A three-wave longitudinal test of self-determination theory’s model of engagement and disaffection in youth sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 38, 15–29. PubMed ID: 27018555 doi:10.1123/jsep.2015-0016

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DeFreese, J.D., & Smith, A.L. (2013). Teammate social support, burnout, and self-determined motivation in collegiate athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 258–265. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.10.009

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DeFreese, J.D., & Smith, A.L. (2014). Athlete social support, negative social interactions and psychological health across a competitive sport season. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 36, 619–630. PubMed ID: 25602144 doi:10.1123/jsep.2014-0040

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DeFreese, J.D., Smith, A.L., & Raedeke, T.D. (2015). Individual and organizational solutions to athlete burnout. In J.M. Williams & V. Krane (Eds.), Applied Sport Psychology (pp. 444–461). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dillman, D.A. (2007). Mail and internet surveys: The tailored design method (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

  • Gelman, A. (2006). Prior distribution for variance parameters in hierarchical models. Bayesian Analysis, 1(3), 515–534. doi:10.1214/06-BA117A

  • Goodger, K., Gorely, T., Lavallee, D., & Harwood, C. (2007). Burnout in sport: A systematic review. The Sport Psychologist, 21, 127–151. doi:10.1123/tsp.21.2.127

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hodge, K., Lonsdale, C., & Jackson, S.A. (2009). Athlete engagement in elite sport: An exploratory investigation of antecedents and consequences. The Sport Psychologist, 23, 186–202. doi:10.1123/tsp.23.2.186

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jowett, S. (2009). Validating coach-athlete relationship measures with the nomological network. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 13, 34–51. doi:10.1080/10913670802609136

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jowett, S., & Ntoumanis, N. (2004). The Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART–Q): Development and initial validation. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 14, 245–257. PubMed ID: 15265147 doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2003.00338.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jowett, S., & Shanmugam, V. (2016). Relational coaching in sport: It’spsychological underpinnings and practical effectiveness. In R. Schinke, K.R. McGannon, & B. Smith (Eds.), Routledge international handbook of sport psychology. New York: NY: Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jowett, S., & Wylleman, P. (2006). Interpersonal relationships in sport and exercise: Crossing the chasm. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7, 119–123. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lemyre, PN., Treasure, D.C., & Roberts, G.C. (2006). Influence of variability in motivation and affect on elite athlete burnout susceptibility. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 28, 32–48. doi:10.1123/jsep.28.1.32

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lonsdale, C., Hodge, K., & Jackson, S.A. (2007). Athlete engagement: II. Development and initial validation of the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 38, 471–492.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lonsdale, C., Hodge, K., & Rose, E. (2009). Athlete burnout in elite sport: A self-determination perspective. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27, 785–795. PubMed ID: 19437185 doi:10.1080/02640410902929366

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Macur, J. (2004, May 28). Rowing scholarships available. No experience necessary. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/sports/othersports/28xrowing.html?src=pm&pagewanted=1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mageau, G.A., & Vallerand, R.J. (2003). The coach-athlete relationship: A motivational model [La relation entraineur/athlete: Unmodele de motivation]. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21, 883–904. PubMed ID: 14626368 doi:10.1080/0264041031000140374

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Olympiou, A., Jowett, S., & Duda, J.L. (2008). The psychological interface between the coach-created motivational climate and the coach-athlete relationship in team sports. The Sport Psychologist, 22, 423–438. doi:10.1123/tsp.22.4.423

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Pelletier, L.G., Fortier, M.S., Vallerand, R.J., Tuson, K.M., Brière, N.M., & Blais, M.R. (1995). Toward a new measure of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation in sports: The sport motivation scale (sms). Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 17, 35–53. doi:10.1123/jsep.17.1.35

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Poczwardowski, A., Barott, J.E., & Jowett, S. (2006). Diversifying approaches to research on athlete-coach relationships. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7, 125–142. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.002

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Price, M.S., & Weiss, M.R. (2000). Relationships among coach burnout, coach behaviors, and athletes’ psychological responses. The Sport Psychologist, 14, 391–409. doi:10.1123/tsp.14.4.391

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Raedeke, T.D. (1997). Is athlete burnout more than just stress? A sport commitment perspective. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 19, 396–417. doi:10.1123/jsep.19.4.396

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Raedeke, T.D., & Smith, A.L. (2001). Development and preliminary validation of an athlete burnout measure. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 23, 281–306. PubMed ID: 28682196 doi:10.1123/jsep.23.4.281

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Raedeke, T.D., & Smith, A.L. (2009). The athlete burnout questionnaire manual. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University.

  • Rezania, D., & Gurney, R. (2014). Building successful student-athlete coach relationships: Examining coaching practices and commitment to the coach. SpringerPlus, 3, 383. PubMed ID: 25105087 doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-383

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Riley, A., & Smith, A.L. (2011). Perceived coach-athlete and peer relationships of young athletes and self-determined motivation for sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42, 115–133.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68–78. PubMed ID: 11392867 doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sarrazin, P., Vallerand, R., Guillet, E., Pelletier, L., & Cury, F. (2002). Motivation and dropout in female handballers: A 21-month prospective study. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 395–418. doi:10.1002/ejsp.98

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Singer, J.D., & Willett, J.B. (2003). Applied longitudinal data analysis: Modeling change and event occurrence. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Smith, R.E. (1986). Toward a cognitive-affective model of athletic burnout. Journal of Sport Psychology, 8, 36–50. doi:10.1123/jsp.8.1.36

  • Smith, R.E., & Smoll, F.L. (2014). Psychological interventions in youth sports. In J. Van Raalte & B. Brewer (Eds.), Exploring sport and exercise psychology (pp. 353–378). Seattle, WA: American Psychological Association.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (6th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

  • Udry, E., Gould, D., Bridges, D., & Tuffey, S. (1997). People helping people? Examining the social ties of athletes coping with burnout and injury stress. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 19, 368–395. doi:10.1123/jsep.19.4.368

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vella, S.A., Oades, L.G., & Crowe, T.P. (2013). The relationship between coach leadership, the coach-athlete relationship, team success, and the positive developmental experiences of adolescent soccer players. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 18, 549–561. doi:10.1080/17408989.2012.726976

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C.G. (2018). On understanding the nature of interpersonal conflict between coaches and athletes. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36(17), 1955–1962. PubMed ID: 29343176 doi:10.1080/02640414.2018.1428882

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 302 302 50
Full Text Views 40 40 1
PDF Downloads 24 24 1