Table 1_The relationship between speed skating coach leadership behavior and athletes’ engagement: the mediating role of athlete psychological fatigue.xlsx

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the association between speed skating coaches’ leadership behavior and athletes’ sports engagement, and to examine the mediating role of athlete psychological fatigue in this relationship.
MethodsA convenience sampling method was adopted to survey 433 speed skating athletes from three provinces in Northeast China. Data were collected using the Coach Leadership Behavior Scale, Athlete Engagement Questionnaire, and Psychological Fatigue in Sports Questionnaire. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation effect testing.
ResultsCorrelation analysis revealed that authoritarian behavior, a dimension of coach leadership behavior, was significantly negatively correlated with all dimensions of athlete engagement (p < 0.01) and significantly positively correlated with all dimensions of athlete psychological fatigue (p < 0.01). In contrast, other dimensions of coach leadership behavior (training guidance, democratic, social support, and positive feedback) were significantly positively correlated with all dimensions of athlete engagement (p < 0.01) and significantly negatively correlated with all dimensions of athlete psychological fatigue (p < 0.01). Additionally, all dimensions of athlete psychological fatigue were significantly negatively correlated with all dimensions of athlete engagement (p < 0.01). Regression analysis showed that all dimensions of coach leadership behavior had a significant effect on athlete engagement (p < 0.01) and athlete psychological fatigue (p < 0.05), while all dimensions of athlete psychological fatigue also had a significant effect on athlete engagement (p < 0.05). Mediation effect testing indicated that athlete psychological fatigue played a partial mediating role in the influence of coach leadership behavior on athlete engagement.
ConclusionThis study found significant correlations between coach leadership behavior, athlete psychological fatigue, and athlete engagement, as well as among their respective dimensions. Each dimension of coach leadership behavior could directly influence both athlete engagement and athlete psychological fatigue, while each dimension of athlete psychological fatigue was directly associated with athlete engagement. Athlete psychological fatigue exerted a partial mediating effect in the relationship between coach leadership behavior and athlete engagement.