The effect of coach-athlete relationship on athlete burnout among college soccer players: The mediating role of training satisfaction

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Athlete burnout is an essential adverse factor that usually decreases athletes’ sports performance and reduces their passion for entire athletic career development. The present study examined the association of coach-athlete relationship, training satisfaction, and athlete burnout, and then explored the training satisfaction as a mediating role of the effect of coach-athlete relationship on athlete burnout among college soccer players. Methods: Two hundred and eighteen college soccer players who came from seven Chinese higher education institutions participated in this study. The Coach-Athlete Relationship Scale, Training Satisfaction Scale, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire were used to measure the basic information of participants respectively. Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and bootstrap method were conducted to analyze the collected data set. Results: The results showed that 1) there was a significant correlation relationship between coach-athlete relationship, training satisfaction, and athlete burnout. 2) emotion, behavior, and cognition in coach-athlete relationship significantly negatively affected emotional/ physical exhaustion and sport devaluation in athlete burnout; emotion and behavior in coach-athlete relationship significantly negatively affected reduced athletic accomplishment in athlete burnout; emotion and behavior in coach-athlete relationship significantly positively affected training satisfaction; training satisfaction significantly negatively affected emotional/ physical exhaustion, reduced athletic accomplishment, and sport devaluation in athlete burnout. 3) training satisfaction has a significantly mediating effect on the relationship between coach-athlete relationship and athlete burnout. Conclusion: Emotion and behavior in coach-athlete relationship can not only directly negative impact on athlete burnout but can also negatively influence athlete burnout through the mediating effect of training satisfaction. Therefore. We suggest that to mitigate athlete burnout, coaches should ensure timely communication with collegiate athletes during training, and collegiate athletes should incorporate mental training techniques into their routines.