Coach-Athlete Emotional Abuse: Relationships with Perceived Coaching Efficacy and Coach-Athlete Relationship Quality

Emotional abuse by coaches is increasingly recognized as a threat to athlete well-being, yet its associations with core sport-psychology constructs remain understudied. This study examined how coach-perpetrated psychological violence/neglect, physical violence, and sexual violence relate to athletes’ perceptions of coaching efficacy and coach–athlete relationship quality. Retired elite athletes (N = 128; 113 provided data on at least one primary measure) completed measures of coach-perpetrated violence, coaching efficacy, and coach–athlete relationship quality while thinking about their most influential coach. Available-case correlations showed that higher psychological violence/neglect, physical violence, and sexual violence were significantly associated with lower perceived coaching efficacy and poorer relationship quality. The three forms of violence were positively intercorrelated, and coaching efficacy and relationship quality were strongly associated. Given the retrospective, cross-sectional design, findings do not establish causality. For clinical and applied sport psychologists, assessing coach–athlete dynamics may enhance case formulation, treatment planning, and consultation related to athlete welfare.

by coaches; psychological violence; coaching efficacy; coach–athlete relationship quality

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