Exploring the relationship between coach identity prominence, passion, and burnout

Abstract

In the context of sport, few studies have examined the psychological processes of coaches, despite the profound role they play in the athletic experience (Amorose, 2007).  This study sought to examine the sequential relationship between three coaching psychological variables; identity prominence, passion, and burnout.  284 (n_male = 164; n_female = 122) coaches that ranged from 18 to 74 (M = 37.53; SD = 12.62) years of age who had coached an average of 13 years, participated in this study.  Respondents completed two subscales from the Coach Identity Prominence Scale (CIPS; Pope & Hall; centrality and evaluative emotions), two subscales from Vallerand et al.’s (2003) passion scale (harmonious and obsessive passion) and three subscales from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; burnout, depersonalization, and personal achievement).  Results from the structural equation model (χ² = 157.87; CFI = .956; TLI = .937; RMSEA = .074 [90% CI = .059-.088]; SRMR = .080) reported that centrality and evaluative emotions positively predicted harmonious passion, while centrality positively and evaluative emotions negatively predicted obsessive passion.  As expected, harmonious passion positively predicted personal achievement and negatively predicted burnout and depersonalization at a moderate to strong level.  In contrast, obsessive passion negatively predicted burnout and depersonalization.  These study results provide further empirical evidence that obsessive passion facilitates while harmonious passion thwarts the undesirable aspects of burnout.  In addition, this study offers initial insight into the mechanisms through which coach identity prominence is related to passion and burnout in coaching.

Acknowledgments: The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada for awarding a scholarship to the first author for the duration of the study.