This study aimed to systematically analyze the relationships among autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors, stress mindset, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being in university student-athletes competing in kendo, taekwondo, and judo. A total...
This study aimed to systematically analyze the relationships among autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors, stress mindset, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being in university student-athletes competing in kendo, taekwondo, and judo. A total of 251 athletes participated in the study, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 28.
TThe results showed that, by gender, male student-athletes scored higher than female student-athletes on growth mindset, expressive suppression, and environmental mastery, whereas female student-athletes showed higher levels of debilitative mindset. With respect to athletic career length, athletes with 10 or more years of experience exhibited the highest levels of growth mindset and self-acceptance. By academic year, statistically significant differences were found in autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors, stress mindset, emotion regulation, self-acceptance, and environmental mastery, whereas no significant differences were found according to sport type.
The structural equation modeling results showed that autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors had a significant direct effect on psychological well-being, and that the indirect effect mediated by emotion regulation was also significant, indicating partial mediation by emotion regulation. In contrast, the indirect effect via stress mindset was not statistically significant, suggesting that emotion regulation is the key mediator in the relationship between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors and psychological well-being.
These findings suggest that, in order to enhance the psychological well-being of university student-athletes, it is necessary not only to strengthen coaches’ autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors but also to provide psychological support aimed at improving athletes’ emotion regulation abilities.