A sequential mixed-method investigation of coaches' impact on athletes' fear of failure and achievement goals

Abstract

Background: Fear of failure can have wide ranging negative implications for individuals and has been considered an important social concern. Although coaches can impact athletes’ fear of failure, research in this area remains limited. The aim of this thesis was to better understand the role of coaches in shaping athletes’ fear of failure and their achievement goals. Method: A sequential mixed-method investigation was conducted across three cross-sectional studies. The first study consisted of a moderated mediation analysis (n=251) examining relationships between athletes’ fear of failure/temperament/achievement goals, and their perception of transformational leadership behaviours in their respective coaches. The second study consisted of a hierarchical mediation analysis (n=156 athletes; n=38 coaches) examining relationships between coaches’ fear of failure, athletes’ perception of controlling coach behaviours, and athletes’ psychological needs frustration/fear of failure. The final study consisted of a thematic analysis (n=9) whereby athletes with fear of failure discussed the impact their coach’s behaviours had on their own fear of failure. Findings: Results from this thesis suggest fear of failure plays a significant role in predicting athletes’ achievement goals, and that transformational coaches do not influence these achievement goals for athletes with fear of failure. Additionally, coach fear of failure does not predict controlling coach behaviours. Next, the impact of coach behaviours on athletes’ fear of failure can vary. This impact, however, depends on how athletes’ psychological needs are influenced following competitive failure. Specifically, psychological needs supportive/frustrating/dissatisfying coach behaviours following athletes’ failure in competitions can reduce/increase/have no impact on athletes’ fear of failure, respectively. Conclusion: Results from my studies suggest that coaches can adopt multiple different behaviours, however, only the coach behaviours that occur following an athlete’s competitive failure appear to influence an athlete’s fear of failure. This highlights the need to consider different contexts when researching antecedents to athletes’ fear of failure.