Mental Well-Being or Ill-Being through Coaching in Adult Grassroots Sport: A Systematic Mapping Review

Abstract

There is convincing evidence on the effects of sport and exercise on mental health and well-being. Less evidence is provided about how to achieve these benefits in the context of grassroots sport coaching. We systematically reviewed the scientific literature of three databases to narratively synthesize the current knowledge about which coaching-related factors influence well-being or ill-being, and how to promote mental health in adult athletes through sport coaches. The review includes 52 studies with different methodological and theoretical approaches and mental health outcomes. The wide range of themes were mapped and synthesized within two clusters, i.e., coaching behavior, antecedents, and context; and coach–athlete relationship and social support. The results highlight the importance of the promotion of empowering environments, autonomy-supportive coaching behavior, and coach–athlete relationship quality that relate to the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The review also calls for a critical perspective, in the sense that the coaching context and working environment may not be empowering and supportive to the well-being of coaches and consequently to the athletes, and that coaches who want to provide autonomy-supportive environments may face various obstacles. Finally, the review synthesizes recommendations for the training of coaches, as one piece of a holistic mental health promotion.

Athlete Perspectives on AI-Driven Coaching Technologies: A Qualitative Inquiry

“…Athletes' insights, as explored in this study, highlight the significance of AI technologies in influencing coaching relationships, enhancing performance, and shaping training experiences. This is in line with previous research that emphasizes the need to understand athletes' perceptions to effectively integrate technology into sports coaching (Barrio et al, 2021;Fan et al, 2023;Gleaves & Lang, 2017). The athlete narratives gathered in our study revealed a nuanced view of AI's role in sports, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges presented by these technologies.…”

“…Athlete perspectives are paramount in evaluating the impact and utility of AI-driven coaching technologies. Research has consistently underscored the importance of athletes' views on various facets of their training environment, including coaching relationships, autonomy, motivation, and susceptibility to burnout (Barrio et al, 2021;Chao et al, 2022;Fan et al, 2023). These elements are integral to an athlete's experience and performance and, as such, are critical considerations for the successful implementation of AI technologies in sports coaching.…”

Exercise for Mental Well-Being: Exploring Neurobiological Advances and Intervention Effects in Depression

“…Conventional treatments for depression typically involve medication and psychotherapy, which can be effective but are not universally accessible or tolerable [26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. A wealth of research indicates that exercise can improve symptoms of depression and promote overall physical and mental well-being [33][34][35][36][37][38]. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce the risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders [39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

Performance Motivation of Taekwondo Athletes: Coach-Athlete Relationship

“…In turn, these three psychological needs drive the development and maintenance of athlete motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, as well as adaptive outcomes. Finally, the three components of behavioral determinants that support coach autonomy are the coach's orientation, the constructive context, and the athlete's actions and desires (Rato Barrio et al, 2021). Empirical research reminds trainers to use motivation control strategies.…”