'The players are the focus, it's never spoken about as coaches': Perceived factors influencing the mental health of Australian elite-level coaches.
Frost, J., Purcell, R., Rice, S., Walton, C.
In plain language
Coaching at the elite level is a high-pressure job that can significantly affect mental health. This study explores the factors that influence the mental wellbeing of elite coaches in Australia, revealing that the environment in which they work plays a crucial role. Coaches face numerous demands, and their mental health is shaped by how well they can use psychological resources, the strength of their interpersonal networks, and the level of support they receive from their organizations.
The research highlights five main themes: the multifaceted demands on coaches, the importance of psychological tools to manage these demands, the protective role of interpersonal networks, the impact of organizational expectations and support, and the stigma that hinders mental health discussions and help-seeking. Coaches who struggle to manage these demands often experience poorer mental health, suggesting a need for better support systems within sports organizations.
Key findings
- Elite coaches face complex demands that affect their mental health.
- Psychological resources and interpersonal networks can help mitigate these demands.
- Organizational support is crucial for maintaining coaches' mental health.
- Stigma around mental health prevents coaches from seeking help.
- Coaches lacking coping strategies and support are more vulnerable to mental ill-health.
Why it matters for flourishing
Understanding the mental health challenges faced by elite coaches is vital for creating supportive environments that promote their wellbeing and, by extension, the wellbeing of the athletes they coach.
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Sports organizations should prioritize creating supportive environments for coaches by promoting psychological skills, encouraging robust social support, and ensuring work-life balance to foster mental health and resilience.
How this research touches wellbeing
Which of Seligman's five PERMA pillars this finding speaks to.
- Positive Emotion
- 6
- Engagement
- 7
- Relationships
- 8
- Meaning
- 7
- Accomplishment
- 6