The Mediating Role of Self-Criticism in the Relationship Between Coaches' Leadership Styles and Disordered Eating in...

Athletes are particularly vulnerable to developing eating disorders, which can negatively impact both health and athletic performance. The coach-athlete relationship plays a central role in athletes' development and well-being. However, little is known about how coaches' leadership styles relate to athletes' self-criticism and disordered eating. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between athletes' perceptions of their coach's leadership style and their own self-criticism and disordered eating.

A total of 150 athletes from team ball sports, aged 18 to 43 years (M = 25.0, SD = 6.0), completed self-report measures.

27.3% of the participants were at heightened risk of developing eating disorders, and 38.7% lacked access to nutritional or psychological support within their clubs. Significant positive associations were found between coaches' negative feedback style and athletes' self-criticism and disordered eating, and between passive management style and athletes' self-criticism and disordered eating. Moreover, athletes' self-criticism fully mediated the relationship between these leadership styles and athletes' disordered eating. Additionally, coaches' vision, inspiration, and individualization styles were related to decreased self-criticism in athletes.

Coaches' leadership styles are significantly related to athletes' psychological and nutritional health. This research has important implications for promoting healthier practices in sports settings.