The role of coach-athlete relationship quality in team sport athletes’ psychophysiological exhaustion: implications for physical and cognitive performance

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine associations between the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and athlete exhaustion by assessing physiological and cognitive consequences. Male and female athletes (N = 82) representing seven teams across four different sports, participated in a quasi-experimental study measuring physical performance on a 5-meter multiple shuttle test, followed by a Stroop test to assess cognitive performance. Participants provided saliva samples measuring cortisol as a biomarker of acute stress response and completed questionnaires measuring exhaustion, and coach-athlete relationship quality. Structural equation modelling revealed a positive relationship between the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and Stroop performance, and negative relationships between the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and cortisol responses to high-intensity exercise, cognitive testing, and exhaustion. The study supports previous research on socio-cognitive correlates of athlete exhaustion by highlighting associations with the quality of the coach-athlete relationship.

Reducing the risk of athlete burnout: Psychosocial, sociocultural, and individual considerations for coaches

“…sport type) as moderators of the relationship between coach-athlete relationship quality and athlete burnout symptoms. In line with earlier research, 8,10,18 higher quality coach-athlete relationships were associated with reports of fewer symptoms of burnout. These findings underline the importance of psychosocial factors associated with the risk of burnout in competitive athletes, as there were no interaction effects found for competition levels and type of sport.…”

“…Specifically, studies have examined positive outcomes including sport and relationship satisfaction, 4,5 motivation, 6 well-being, 7 and physical and cognitive performance. 8 Recent research has also studied negative consequences including interpersonal conflict 9 and athlete burnout. 10 Athlete burnout has been defined as a multidimensional psychophysiological syndrome characterised by symptoms of emotional and physical exhaustion (i.e.…”

“…11,12 Although this multidimensional definition is the most commonly used in sport psychology research, many researchers consider exhaustion to be the core of burnout. 8,13 Numerous years of research have illustrated how burnout is associated with negative cognitive, motivational, and behavioural outcomes for athletes. 14 For example, burnout has been associated with psychological stress, 15 reduced coping skills and optimism 16 as well as sport dropout.…”

“…10 Past research suggests that athletes' negative interactions with their coach can act as a risk factor in the development of burnout 10,17 and underlie poor coachathlete relationship quality. 8,10,18 Specifically, Davis et al 8 and Isoard-Gautheur et al 10 found a negative link between coach-athlete relationship quality (i.e. captured through the interpersonal constructs of the 3Cs) and athlete burnout (i.e.…”

Lived experiences within a longstanding coach-athlete relationship. The case of one paralympic athlete

“…Coach-athlete relationships may last for decades and facilitate success in and outside sport. Several studies (Davis, Appleby, Davis, Wetherell, & Gustafsson, 2018;Jowett & Nezlek, 2012;Rhind & Jowett, 2010) on the coach-athlete relationship have focused on performance and developmental outcomes (i.e., life skills) derived from successful partnerships. Life skills represent a range of skills (e.g., perseverance, goal-setting, leadership) learned within the sport environment that can be also applied in other life domains (Gould & Carson, 2008).…”