Quality of coach-athlete relationship and coping as associated factors of stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression symptoms of soccer players in transition to professional: a prospective study

Abstract

Aims: The present study investigated the quality of coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and coping as associated factors stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression symptoms of soccer players in the transition to professional. Methods: Twenty-three athletes from four teams of the 2019 under-20 Bahia State Championship participated in the study. The instruments used were the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire, the Coping Strategic Athletic Inventory, the Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R, the Burnout Questionnaire for Athletes, and the Major Depression Inventory. Data analysis was conducted using Generalized Estimation Equations, Pearson's Correlation, and Linear Multiple Regression (p < 0.05). Results: Our findings show that from the beginning to the end of the season, CAR and coping strategies were predictors of psychic occurrences. For CAR, the symptoms of anxiety associated with self-confidence and stress symptoms were predicted by Proximity and Complementarity, respectively. As for coping strategies, only the symptoms of stress were predicted by the dimension of facing adversity. Conclusion: From the beginning to the end of the season, the magnitude of the predicting factors over some psychopathologies is enhanced in youth soccer players going through a career transition stage.