Differences in Psychoneuroendocrine Stress Responses of High-Level Swimmers Depending on Autocratic and Democratic Coaching Style

Manuel Jiménez, Manuel Fernández-Navas, José Ramón Alvero-Cruz, Jerónimo García-Romero, Virginia García-Coll, Iván Rivilla and Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez
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Manuel Jiménez: Departamento de Didáctica de la Educación Física y Salud, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, 26002 Logroño, Spain
Manuel Fernández-Navas: Departamento de Didáctica y Organización Escolar, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
José Ramón Alvero-Cruz: Departamento de Fisiología Humana, Histiología, Anatomía Patológica, y Medicina de la Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
Jerónimo García-Romero: Departamento de Fisiología Humana, Histiología, Anatomía Patológica, y Medicina de la Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
Virginia García-Coll: Departamento de Didáctica de la Educación Física y Salud, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, 26002 Logroño, Spain
Iván Rivilla: Departamento de Didáctica de la Educación Física y Salud, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, 26002 Logroño, Spain
Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez: Faculty of Sports Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-8

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in the psychoneuroendocrine stress responses of high-level, young swimmers depending on whether an autocratic and democratic coaching style was applied. Modifications in cortisol and the motivational climate of 18 young swimmers (15.3 ± 1.86 years, 10 females and 8 males) were analysed before and after two training sessions with equivalent training loads but directed by two coaches applying different approaches, i.e., autocratic (A) and democratic (D). The basal testosterone levels of the coaches were also assessed. The basal testosterone concentration was higher in coach A than in coach D; the athletes perceived them as autocratic and democratic, respectively. Swimmers under coach A’s instructions showed higher cortisol levels, suggesting higher cortisol production related to coaching style. Furthermore, differences in the motivational climate concerning ego (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with that of other athletes) were observed with coach A, whereas differences in motivational climate concerning the task (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with their own past performance) were observed with coach D. Cognitive variables showed negative perceptions affecting athletes’ training experience and performance when they were screamed at or insulted by coach A. There were no gender or age differences in cortisol production or motivational climate. In conclusion, this study suggests that an autocratic coaching style modulates cortisol release in both genders, affecting young elite swimmers’ motivational climate and training experience.

Keywords: coaching styles; cortisol; learning; motivational climate; performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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