Abstract
Recent studies have identified symptoms related to the mental disorders in athletes and have highlighted the importance of exploring factors that may contribute to athletes' mental health. The current study examined whether self-criticism operates as a mediator process in the association between athletes’ perceptions of coach-related critical attitudes with depressive symptoms, and psychological health. 263 Portuguese adults, who compete in different sports, and completed self-report instruments on an online survey took part in the study. Path analyses results indicated the credibility of the examined model that accounted for 32% and 28% of the variance of psychological health and depressive symptoms, respectively. Athletes who perceived their coach as more critical in relation to their attitudes and performance reported higher levels of self-criticism, that tended to be linked with more symptoms of depression and lower levels of psychological health. These findings clarified the role of critical attitudes from the coach on athletes’ mental health and indicated that self-criticism is a maladaptive process in dealing with failures. This study offers significant insights into clinical psychology in the context of sport by suggesting that critical attitudes of the coach as perceived by the athletes and self-criticism may associate to negative indicators of mental health.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The datasets collected and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the present research is part of a wider research, thus the data is still being used by the authors.
References
Bloom, G. A., & Salmela, J. H. (2000). Personal characteristics of expert team sport coaches. Journal of Sport Pedagogy, 6, 56–76.
Bloom, G. A., Durand-Bush, N., Schinke, R. J., & Salmela, J. H. (1998). The importance of mentoring in the development of coaches and athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 29, 267–281.
Bloom, G. A., Falcão, W. R., & Caron, J. G. (2014). Coaching high performance athletes: Implications for coach training. In R. Gomes, R. Resende, & A. Albuquerque (Eds.), Positive human functioning from a multidimensional perspective (pp. 107–131). Nova Science.
Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Furnham, A. (1996). Self-critical attitudes and parental criticism in young women. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 69(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1996.tb01851.x
Castilho, P., Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Duarte, C. (2015). Exploring self-criticism: Confirmatory factor analysis of the FSCRS in clinical and nonclinical samples. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1881
Chang, C., Putukian, M., Aerni, G., Diamond, A., Hong, G., Ingram, Y., Reardon, C. L., & Wolanin, A. (2020). Mental health issues and psychological factors in athletes: Detection, management, effect on performance and prevention: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement-Executive Summary. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(4), 216–220. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101583
Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S., & Aiken, L. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioural sciences (3rd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Côté, J. (2002). Coach and peer influence and children’s development through sport. In J. M. Silver & D. E. Stevens (Eds.), Psychological foundations of sport (pp. 520–540). Allyn & Bacon.
Côté, J., & Fraser-Thomas, J. (2007). Youth involvement in sport. In P. R. E. Crocker (Ed.), Introduction to sport psychology: A Canadian perspective (pp. 266–294). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Davis, L., & Jowett, S. (2010). Investigating the interpersonal dynamics between coaches and athletes based on fundamental principles of attachment. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 4, 112–132. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.4.2.112
Davis, L., Appleby, R., Davis, P., Wetherell, M., & Gustafsson, H. (2018). The role of coach-athlete relationship quality in team sport athletes’ psychophysiological exhaustion: Implications for physical and cognitive performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1429176
Ehret, A. M., Joormann, J., & Berking, M. (2015). Examining risk and resilience factors for depression: The role of self-criticism and self-compassion. Cognition & Emotion, 29, 1496–1504. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2014.992394
Ferguson, L., Kowalski, K., Mack, D., & Sabiston, C. (2014). Exploring self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in young women athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 36, 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2013-0096
Ferguson, L., Kowalski, K., Mack, D., & Sabiston, C. (2015). Self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being during emotionally difficult times in sport. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1263–1280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9558-8
Frazer, A. L., Fite, P. J., Stone, K. J., & Clinkenbeard, J. (2018). Parental criticism moderates sibling influence on proactive and reactive aggression. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 4025–4032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1210-5
Frentz, D. M., McHugh, T., & Mosewich, A. (2019). Athletes’ experiences of shifting from self-critical to self-compassionate approaches within high performance sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32(6), 565–584. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2019.1608332
Gilbert, P. (1998). What is shame? Some core issues and controversies. In P. Gilbert & B. Andrews (Eds.), Shame: Interpersonal behaviour, psychopathology and culture (pp. 3–36). Oxford University Press.
Gilbert, P., Clarke, M., Hempel, S., Miles, J. N., & Irons, C. (2004). Criticizing and reassuring oneself: An exploration of forms, styles and reasons in female students. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43(1), 31–50. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466504772812959
Han, Z. R., & Shaffer, A. (2014). Maternal expressed emotion in relation to child behavior problems: Differential and mediating effects. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23, 1491–1500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-104-9923-6
Isoard-Gautheur, S., Trouilloud, D., Gustafsson, H., & Guillet-Descas, E. (2016). Associations between the perceived quality of the coach– athlete relationship and athlete burnout: An examination of the mediating role of achievement goals. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22, 210–217.
Jowett, S., & Cockerill, I. M. (2003). Olympic medallists’ perspective of the athlete-coach relationship. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4(4), 313–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00011-0
Killham, M. E., Mosewich, A. D., Mack, D. E., Gunnell, K. E., & Ferguson, L. J. (2018). Women athletes’ self-compassion, self-criticism, and perceived sport performance. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 7(3), 297–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000127
Kline, R. (2005). Principals and practice of structural equation modelling (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Lee, K. H., Siegle, G. J., Dahl, R. E., Hooley, J. M., & Silk, J. S. (2015). Neural responses to maternal criticism in healthy youth. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(7), 902–912.
Lovibond, S., & Lovibond, P. (1995). Manual for the Depression anxiety stress scales (2nd ed.). Psychology Foundation.
Manfredi, C., Caselli, G., Pescini, F., Rossi, M., Rebecchi, D., Ruggiero, G., Sassaroli, S. (2016). Parental criticism, self-criticism and their relation to depressive mood: an exploratory study among a non-clinical population. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2016.178
McIntyre, R., Smith, P., & Rimes, K. A. (2018). The role of self-criticism in common mental health difficulties in students: A systematic review of prospective studies. Mental Health and Prevention, 10, 13–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2018.02.003
McLeod, B., Weisz, J., & Wood, J. (2007). Examining the association between parenting and childhood depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(8), 986–1003.
Mosewich, A., Crocker, P., Kowalski, K., & DeLongis, A. (2013). Applying self-compassion in sport: An intervention with women athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35, 514–524. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.5.514
Norman, L., & French, J. (2013). Understanding how high performance women athletes experience the coach-athlete relationship. International Journal of Coaching Science, 7(1), 3–24.
Oliveira, S., Rosado, A., Cunha, M., & Ferreira, C. (2021b). The compassionate coach scale as perceived by the athlete: Development and initial validation in Portuguese athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1907763
Oliveira, S., Cunha, M., Rosado, A., & Ferreira, C. (2022). Challenges, burden and emotional impact on Portuguese athletes during COVID-19 pandemic. Cuadernos De Psicología Del Deporte, 22(1), 44–56. https://doi.org/10.6018/cpd.462181
Oliveira, S., Trindade, I. A., Rosado, A., Cunha, M., & Ferreira, C. (2021a). Development and initial validation of athletes’ perceptions of coach-related critical attitudes scale. Current Psychology. 0.1007/s12144–020–01325–8
Oliveira, S., Rosado, A., Cunha, M., & Ferreira, C. (2021c). Compassionate Coach and Psychological Quality of Life in Portuguese Athletes: Effect of Mediating Variables.Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology 1–17https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2020-0058
Pais-Ribeiro, J. L., Honrado, A., & Leal, I. (2004). Contribuição para o estudo da adaptação portuguesa das escalas de ansiedade, depressão e stress (EADS) de 21 itens de Lovibond e Lovibond. Psicologia, Saúde e Doenças, 5(2), 229–239.
Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Xavier, A. (2010). O (in)sucesso na competição desportiva: A influência da aceitação e do auto-criticismo. Psychologica, 52(2), 361–386.
Poucher, Z. A., Tamminen, K. A., Kerr, G., & Cairney, J. (2019). A Commentary on Mental Health Research in Elite Sport.Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 1–23https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2019.1668496
Powers, T., Koestner, R., Lacaille, N., Kwan, L., & Zuroff, D. (2009). Self-criticism, motivation and goal progress of athletes and musicians: A prospective study. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 279–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.03.012
Rice, S. M., Purcell, R., De Silva, S., Mawren, D., McGorry, P. D., & Parker, A. G. (2016). The Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Narrative Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 46(9), 1333–1353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0492-2
Rodriguez, M., & Ebbeck, V. (2015). Implementing self-compassion strategies with female college gymnasts. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 6, 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2014.991052
Schinke, R. J., Stambulova, N. B., Si, G., & Moore, Z. (2018). International society of sport psychology position stand: Athletes’ mental health, performance, and development. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16(6), 622–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2017.1295557
Siekanska, M., Blecharz, J., & Wojtowicz, A. (2013). The athlete’s perception of coaches’ behavior towards competitors with a different sports level. Journal of Human Kinetics, 39(1), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2013-0086
Sutherland, L., Kowalski, K., Ferguson, L., Sabiston, C., Sedgwick, W., & Crocker, P. (2014). Narratives of young women athletes’ experiences of emotional pain and self-compassion. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 6, 499–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2014.888587
Tenenbaum, G., Basevitch, I., Gershgoren, L., & Filho, E. (2013). Emotions-decision-making in sport: Theoretical conceptualization and experimental evidence. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11, 151–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197x.2013.773687
Vallée, C. N., & Bloom, G. A. (2005). Building a successful university program: Key and common elements of expert coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 17, 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200591010021
Vaz-Serra, A., Canavarro, M. C., Simões, M. R., Pereira, M., Gameiro, S., Quartilho, M. J., Rijo, D., Carona, C., & Paredes, T. (2006). Estudos Psicométricos do Instrumento de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-Bref) para Português de Portugal. Psiquiatria Clínica, 27(1), 41–49.
Walton, C. C., Baranoff, J., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. (2020). Self-compassion, social rank, and psychological distress in athletes of varying competitive levels.Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101733
WHOQOL Group. (1998). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties. Social Science e Medicine, 46(12), 1569–1585.
Wolanin, A., Gross, M., & Hong, E. (2015). Depression in athletes: Prevalence and risk factors. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 14(1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000123
Wood, J., McLeod, B., Sigman, M., Hwang, W. C., & Chu, B. (2003). Parenting and childhood anxiety: Theory, empirical findings, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(1), 134–151.
Funding
Funding Research by the author Sara Oliveira is supported by a Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/143410/2019) sponsored by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the Human Capital Operational Programme (POCH) and the European Union (EU).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
This study was approved by the Ethical Board of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Coimbra.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oliveira, S., Cunha, M., Rosado, A. et al. How athletes' perception of coach-related critical attitudes affect their mental health? The role of self-criticism. Curr Psychol 42, 18499–18506 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03040-y
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03040-y