Efficacy Beliefs are Related to Task Cohesion: Communication is a Mediator

Abstract

Efficacy beliefs and communication are key constructs which have been targeted to develop task cohesion. This study’s purpose was to: (1) examine whether collective efficacy, team-focused other-efficacy, and team-focused relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) are predictive of task cohesion, and (2) evaluate the possibility that communication mediates efficacy-task cohesion relationships. British university team-sport athletes (n = 250) completed questionnaires assessing efficacy beliefs, communication (i.e., positive conflict, negative conflict, and acceptance communication), and task cohesion (i.e., attractions to group; ATG-T, group integration; GI-T). Data were subjected to a multi-group path analysis to test mediation hypotheses while also addressing potential differences across males and females. Across all athletes, collective efficacy and team-focused other-efficacy significantly predicted ATG-T and GI-T directly. Positive conflict and acceptance communication significantly mediated relationships between efficacy (team-focused other-efficacy, collective efficacy) and cohesion (ATG-T, GI-T). Findings suggest enhancing athletes’ collective efficacy and team-focused efficacy beliefs will encourage communication factors affecting task cohesion.