The influence of the trainer on the motivation and resilience of sportspeople: A study from the perspective of self-determination theory

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a trainer’s interpersonal relations from the perspective of autonomy support and controlling style on sportspeople’s basic need satisfaction and frustration, motivation, and resilience. The study used a cross-sectional design based on self-determination theory (SDT). Sportspeople (N = 324) completed questionnaires to measure their perceptions of trainers’ autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching styles, basic need satisfaction and frustration in the sports context, motivation for sport, and resilience. Structural equation modeling of the proposed relations among variables supported SDT by showing a positive relation between perceived autonomy support and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (β = .39, p < .001) and a negative relation with the frustration of psychological needs (β = −.17, p < .05). The coach’s perceived interpersonal controlling style showed a positive relation with the frustration of psychological needs (β = .55, p < .001) and a negative relation with the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (β = −.27, p < .05). Furthermore, autonomous motivation showed a negative relation (β = −.46, p < .001) with the frustration of psychological needs and a positive relation (β = .35, p < .05) with the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and resilience (β = .60, p < .001). In addition, the resilience of sportspeople was indirectly affected to the same extent by the trainer’s influence through control (β = −.38, p < .05) and perception of autonomy support (β = .16, p < .05) through the mediators of satisfaction of basic psychological needs and motivation. These results show the influence of the coach on the motivation and resilience of sportspeople.