Abstract
There has been a recent increase in research examining role ambiguity and athlete satisfaction in sport. Previous studies have found that there is a negative correlation between role ambiguity and athlete satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to explore this correlation between role ambiguity and athlete sport satisfaction, and to examine if gender and need for role clarity act as moderators. This cross-sectional study consisted of 39 competitive athletes recruited from a local high-performance training centre who completed The Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire, Role Ambiguity Scale and the Need for Role Clarity Questionnaire. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between role clarity and satisfaction. Regression analysis indicated that both gender and need for role clarity were not significant moderators in the relationship between role clarity and athlete satisfaction. Results from this study add to previous literature that the role clarity (or ambiguity) -athlete satisfaction relationship is consistent with different population samples. This research suggests that coaches should consider role clarity/ambiguity to improve group dynamics within their teams, and to work to improve role clarity for their athletes. Moreover, this study provides insight to create interventions to increase athlete satisfaction, which may be related to fewer dropouts and improved performance by athletes.
