THURSDAY, March 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Athletes coached by coaches who are open, honest, and positive are more likely to have better mental health, a new study says.
Athletes feel happier and deal with problems more easily when coaches adopt an ‘authentic leadership’ style, researchers report in an academic journal Psychology of sport and exercise.
Results also show that this leadership style produces better and more cohesive team spirit at higher levels of competition.
According to Professor Maria Kabusanu, a senior researcher in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Birmingham in the UK, players in national, international and university leagues who receive such coaching are more likely to support and encourage each other. There is a higher chance of a match.
“Higher-level athletes tend to train together for longer periods of time and have the opportunity to socialize with each other more frequently,” Cavusanu said in a news release.
“The relationships you develop within your team are important. So is experiencing positive behaviors such as support and encouragement from teammates. This is facilitated by coaches who adopt an authentic leadership style,” Kavusanu said. he added.
Researchers say that authentic leadership includes the following aspects:
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Share information openly
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Demonstrate understanding of the athlete’s strengths and weaknesses
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ethical behavior
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listen to another point of view
Researchers found that authentic leadership from coaches was associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress in athletes.
Results show that this type of leadership also influenced athletes to better support each other by providing encouragement, support, positive feedback, and congratulations.
“This strengthens athletes’ mental capital, giving them a greater chance of becoming more resilient, confident and optimistic, which may have beneficial effects on their subsequent mental health,” Cavusanu said. Stated.
As a result, athletes may be more likely to remain involved in sport as they age, THE researchers said.
“The powerful effect that authentic leadership has on athletes’ competition at higher levels is a unique finding that deserves further exploration in future research,” Cavusanu added.
For more information
Harvard Business School explains authentic leadership in detail.
Source: University of Birmingham, News Release, 5 March 2024
