Cohesion at 40: A commentary on (re)conceptualizing cohesion through identity, interdependence, and teamwork in sport...

We provide a brief commentary to accompany Eys and Beauchamp's (2025) work, (Re)conceptualizing cohesion: A theoretical realignment and roadmap for future research. We emphasize and extend the conceptual advances offered in the paper around four focal areas: the revised definition of cohesion (Propositions 1-2), the repositioning of individual attractions within a social identity framework (Proposition 3), the roles of task and outcome interdependence (Propositions 4, 5, 7) and teamwork processes (Proposition 6). Building on these propositions, we contribute to their conversation on theoretical refinement and methodological rigor. Specifically, we highlight cohesion theory can be further strengthened with dedicated research on social cohesion and more precisely placing (group) goals within cohesion theory. As mentioned by the authors, there is a need to conduct targeted studies in individual-sport contexts and utilize multilevel modeling to capture nested team dynamics in any group setting. We further consider that framing interdependence as a subjective, dynamic state offers novel insights into its relationship with cohesion. To enhance knowledge about cohesion and teamwork, we suggest measuring observable teamwork behaviors in combination with survey-based methods. We offer this commentary to enrich the paper's conceptual foundation and support the evolution of cohesion research in the coming 40 years.