Coach Created Motivational Climate and Self-Efficacy in the Coach-Athlete Relationship: The Role of Relational Efficacy Beliefs

Abstract

The motivational climate athletes perceive is crucial for many psychological aspects such as motivation, effort and enjoyment. The motivational climate also influences self-efficacy in competitive athletes. Since the motivational climate is a perception an athlete has of the environment the way it influences sources of self-efficacy are expressed through social factors. The motivational climate influences self-efficacy through classic and social efficacy sources which are expressed through relational efficacy beliefs. These beliefs are relation inferred self-efficacy (RISE) and other-efficacy. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine how the coach created motivational climate predicts self-efficacy and that connection is mediated by RISE. METHODS: Participants (n = 57 athletes, 65% male, M = 32.44 ± 10.74 years; n = 18 coaches, 83% male, M = 34 ± 7.44) competing in different sports completed different online questionnaires for coaches and their athletes. Each coach had several athletes who answered in relation to their coach. ANOVA and a t-test were performed to test for differences in the measures for gender and type of sport. RESULTS: Perceived coach created mastery climate was a significant predictor of self-efficacy (B = .41, p < .01). RISE was a significant mediator of the connection between mastery climate and self-efficacy (B = .23, CI [.09 - .48]). Outcome climate did not significantly predict self-efficacy. Other-efficacy did not significantly moderate the connection between RISE and self-efficacy (t = .29, p = .77). The difference between coach and athlete's perceived motivational climate was negatively correlated with other-efficacy and RISE(r = -.37, p < .05; r = -.30, p < .05) CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy was significantly predicted by mastery climate. The prediction of self-efficacy was mediated by RISE which was a significant mediator compared to the mastery climate independently. Outcome climate did not predict self-efficacy significantly. Other-efficacy did not moderate the effect RISE had on self-efficacy significantly. The difference between coaches and their athletes in perception of the motivational climate had a significant negative correlation with RISE and other-efficacy.