Authentic leadership and well-being in sport: the mediating role of psychological safety and the moderating role of interpersonal violence

Sport leaders, such as coaches, are critical in promoting psychological safety with subsequent effects on athlete well-being. However, many athletes experience interpersonal violence (e.g., psychological abuse), which can negatively influence their well-being and may attenuate the beneficial effects of positive coaching styles such as authentic leadership in psychologically safe environments. Understanding the relationship between authentic leadership, psychological safety and athlete well-being after experiencing interpersonal violence in sport is important in designing effective safeguarding interventions and policy. In this study, we were the first to examine the indirect relationship between authentic leadership and well-being via psychological safety, and if the direct relationship between authentic leadership and well-being is moderated by interpersonal violence. Competitive athletes (N = 305; 52% female, 29.20 ± 12.62 years old) completed an anonymous questionnaire measuring authentic leadership of their current coach, psychological safety, interpersonal violence, and well-being. Authentic leadership was indirectly related to well-being via psychological safety (effect size = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.19), and the direct effect of authentic leadership on well-being was significant only when interpersonal violence scores were low or moderate. These findings suggest that when athletes perceive their coaches to be authentic leaders, they are more likely to feel psychologically safe, and in turn have a greater sense of well-being. However, authentic leaders are less likely to positively influence well-being when athletes have experienced interpersonal violence even when they feel psychologically safe. A need exists to prevent interpersonal violence so that coaches displaying authentic leadership qualities can positively influence their athletes’ well-being.