A Mixed-Methods Case Study of Team Dynamics and Psychological Well-Being in Professional Motorsport Athletes

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, athletes’ and coaches’ participation in sport was restricted severely.ObjectivesThis study explore the mental health and wellbeing of athletes and coaches in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of adjusted level 3 lockdown in February 2021. At the time, participants were restricted from engaging in sports activities for a year.MethodsA convenience sample of 135 athletes (mean age= 36.2±16.8) and 110 coaches (mean age=44.0±14.0) from 37 sporting codes participated in the study. They were invited via their federations to complete the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Mental Health Continuum – Short Form. Descriptive results, correlations and group differences were determined. A direct logistic regression was done to predict psychological distress for athletes and coaches.ResultsPsychological distress was observed for athletes (46%) and coaches (47%), while 45% of athletes and 46% of coaches were flourishing under conditions of the pandemic. The social wellbeing of more athletes’ (25%) and coaches’ (28%) was disrupted than their emotional and psychological wellbeing during lockdown. The mental wellbeing of athletes (OR=0.86; CI 95%=0.81–0.91: p=0.0001) and coaches (OR=0.93; CI 95%=0.89–0.97: p=0.0001) seemed to mitigate their psychological distress, while female athletes (OR=4.97; CI 95%=1.62–15.18: p=0.005) were almost five times more likely to experience psychological distress than male athletes.ConclusionAlmost half of the participating athletes and coaches showed high psychological distress, while high mental wellbeing seemed to protect athletes and coaches from negative mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Female athletes and coaches were identified as high-risk groups for mental health challenges during lockdown conditions.

This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between team cohesion and WELL-BEING among college athletes. This study adopts a quantitative research design, with a sample of 627 college athletes from a regular university in Jiangxi Province, China. A survey was conducted on the basic information of student respondents in terms of gender, age, grade, and years of experience, as well as their self-evaluation of athlete well-being, including physical health, mental health, emotions, balance, socialization, achievement, recovery and rest, and support systems. The relationship between team cohesion and self-evaluation of well-being was studied by analyzing the differences in personal characteristics and self-evaluation of well-being. This study also evaluated the positive effects of team cohesion, coach behavior, and athlete well-being on physical, psychological, emotional, and social health, and recommended promoting open and transparent communication within the team, strengthening leadership, establishing conflict resolution mechanisms, cultivating common values and goals, focusing on mental health, balancing lifestyles, and promoting internal respect and team spirit through team building and support networks to increase athlete well-being and team cohesion.

The coachâ–“athlete relationship influences an athlete's psychological well-being; however, little is known about the psychological mechanisms involved in the relationship between these variables. This study emphasized the mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between the coachâ–“athlete relationship and athletes’ psychological well-being. Participants were 372 college athletes from five Chinese universities, who completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire in which they assessed their coachâ–“athlete relationship, psychological safety, and psychological well-being. Results of structural equation modeling indicated there was a positive relationship between a positive coachâ–“athlete relationship and an athlete's psychological well-being, and that psychological safety partially mediated this relationship. This study extends the conclusions of prior research and provides new insights into how the coachâ–“athlete relationship affects athletes’ psychological well-being.

First responders operate in high-stakes environments where organizational culture may influence mental health outcomes. This study examined the associations between psychological safety, workplace incivility, and institutional betrayal and their impact on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, burnout, and resilience among emergency medical services and fire personnel in Florida. A cross-sectional survey of n = 799 first responders measured mental health symptoms and organizational climate using validated scales. Findings revealed that 33.2% of respondents screened positive for probable PTSD, 32.3% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 27.6% reported moderate or high burnout. Institutional betrayal was reported by 59.5% of participants and was significantly associated with elevated PTSD, depression, and burnout and lower resilience. First responders experiencing mental health challenges reported significantly higher levels of workplace incivility. Greater exposure to incivility was strongly associated with lower resilience and higher rates of PTSD, depression, and burnout. In addition, psychological safety scores were consistently lower across all organizational levels, including supervisors, command staff, peers, and teams, among individuals with mental health concerns. These findings suggest that adverse organizational experiences may be linked to poorer mental health outcomes, regardless of role or rank. The results underscore the need for organizational interventions, such as leadership training, peer support, and transparent accountability policies, that promote psychological safety, reduce incivility, and restore trust. By addressing these modifiable workplace factors, first responder agencies can work to improve morale and wellness, while also positively influencing recruitment, retention, and overall workforce stability. Future research should explore causal pathways and evaluate the long-term impact of organizational culture change initiatives.

Discrimination against transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals remains apervasive issue, significantly impacting their psychological safety and overall well-being. This marginalisedcommunity faces an array of challenges, including experiencing homelessness, poverty, and harassment, whichare interconnected and, to a considerable extent, a consequence of systemic discrimination. Studies by Tebbeet al. (2019) reveal that the TGNC community grapples with disproportionately high rates of homelessness,poverty, and harassment, thus highlighting the systemic nature of the challenges they confront. Workplacediscrimination within the TGNC community extends across a spectrum, impacting individuals’ authenticity andpotential for forced engagement in underground economy work to offset poverty, including survival sex workand drug dealing (Par & Howe, 2020). Workplace discrimination is a pivotal determinant of psychological safety and well-being for TGNC individuals.Frazier et al. (2017) emphasise the critical importance of preventing discrimination and conflict in theworkplace, which contributes to negative mental health outcomes. The consequences of discrimination areprofound. A significant portion of the TGNC community reports a history of suicidal ideation, ranging from 45%to 77% (Testa et al., 2017). Promoting psychological safety and well-being for this marginalised community isnot only a moral imperative, but also a pathway to fostering more prosperous and inclusive societies. Thisresearch utilises a qualitative methodology, through semi-structured interviews among diverse genderidentities. By exploring the lived experiences of TGNC individuals in the workplace, this study uncovers theimpact of discrimination on psychological well-being. The results of the findings demonstrate how to improvethe psychological-safety of gender-diverse communities through

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of personality (openness, neuroticism) and leader consideration behavior on team cohesiveness. The present study tests the mediating effect of psychological safety in the relationship between personality (openness, neuroticism) and team cohesiveness. While openness and neuroticism were examined as individual-level variables, leader consideration behavior, relationship conflict, psychological safety, and team cohesiveness were analyzed in team-level. Sequential mediation effects of relationship conflict and psychological safety on the relationship between leader consideration behavior and team cohesiveness were also examined. Data were collected from a total of 35 teams comprised of 194 students using survey. The results showed that psychological safety mediated the relationship between neuroticism and team cohesiveness. However, the mediating effect of openness was not significant. Moreover, relationship conflict and psychological safety sequentially mediated the relationship between leader consideration behavior and team cohesiveness. Based on these results, implications, limitations of research, and suggestions for the future research are discussed.

Compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at an increased risk of adverse mental and sexual health outcomes. Minority Stress Theory (MST) proposes that GBM experience an increased prevalence of poor mental health outcomes as a result of minority stress. Building upon MST, the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) posits that minority stress leads to changes in general cognitive, affective, and social psychological processes, thereby leading to negative mental health outcomes. The present mixed methods study focused on three primary objectives in a sample of 261 GBM: (a) testing the indirect effects of general psychological processes in the relationship between minority stress and poor mental health outcomes; (b) evaluating whether these processes also account for the relationship between minority stress and poor sexual health outcomes; and (c) qualitatively exploring and further clarifying the PMF. Quantitative results provided support for the PMF by demonstrating that experiences of objective stigma were associated with elevations in psychological risk factors, which were in turn associated with adverse mental health outcomes. When each mediator was examined separately, affective processes had a significant effect on mental health outcomes whereas cognitive and social processes were non-significant. For sexual health, the total indirect effect of general psychological mediators in the relationship between stigma and sexual health outcomes was non-significant. However, when mediators were examined separately, cognitive processes did appear to have a significant indirect effect in this relationship, whereas affective and social processes were non-significant. Qualitative results provided partial support for the PMF; many, but not all, of the key components of the model were discussed by participants, and a number of novel themes emerged that expand beyond variables described in the PMF. These findings have important theoretical implications by helping to refine the PMF and future studies of minority stress. Further, by offering a better understanding of the mechanisms linking minority stress and poor health outcomes, this study may help guide future psychological interventions aimed at improving the health of GBM.

Compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at an increased risk of adverse mental and sexual health outcomes. Minority Stress Theory (MST) proposes that GBM experience an increased prevalence of poor mental health outcomes as a result of minority stress. Building upon MST, the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) posits that minority stress leads to changes in general cognitive, affective, and social psychological processes, thereby leading to negative mental health outcomes. The present mixed methods study focused on three primary objectives in a sample of 261 GBM: (a) testing the indirect effects of general psychological processes in the relationship between minority stress and poor mental health outcomes; (b) evaluating whether these processes also account for the relationship between minority stress and poor sexual health outcomes; and (c) qualitatively exploring and further clarifying the PMF. Quantitative results provided support for the PMF by demonstrating that experiences of objective stigma were associated with elevations in psychological risk factors, which were in turn associated with adverse mental health outcomes. When each mediator was examined separately, affective processes had a significant effect on mental health outcomes whereas cognitive and social processes were non-significant. For sexual health, the total indirect effect of general psychological mediators in the relationship between stigma and sexual health outcomes was non-significant. However, when mediators were examined separately, cognitive processes did appear to have a significant indirect effect in this relationship, whereas affective and social processes were non-significant. Qualitative results provided partial support for the PMF; many, but not all, of the key components of the model were discussed by participants, and a number of novel themes emerged that expand beyond variables described in the PMF. These findings have important theoretical implications by helping to refine the PMF and future studies of minority stress. Further, by offering a better understanding of the mechanisms linking minority stress and poor health outcomes, this study may help guide future psychological interventions aimed at improving the health of GBM.

This study aimed to explore the role of psychological safety in promoting mental well-being among dental professionals. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 34 dental professionals from diverse countries. Participants were recruited through online announcements, and interviews were conducted via video calls. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo software, with theoretical saturation guiding data collection. Key themes were identified, including supportive leadership, collegial relationships, workplace culture, mental well-being strategies, and patient interaction dynamics. The results revealed that supportive leadership, characterized by open communication and emotional support, significantly enhanced psychological safety. Collegial relationships, particularly peer support and team cohesion, played a crucial role in reducing workplace stress. A positive workplace culture that prioritized respect, inclusivity, and ethical conduct fostered a sense of security and belonging. Access to mental health resources and structured well-being programs further contributed to practitioners' psychological resilience. Managing emotional labor in patient interactions was identified as a key challenge, with participants emphasizing the need for training on coping strategies. These findings align with existing literature on psychological safety in healthcare, reinforcing the importance of organizational interventions to support mental well-being. Psychological safety is a fundamental component of workplace well-being in dental clinics, influencing both professional satisfaction and patient care quality. Dental organizations should implement leadership training, peer support programs, and mental health initiatives to create psychologically safe environments. Addressing emotional labor challenges and promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity can further enhance the well-being of dental professionals. Future research should explore the long-term impact of psychological safety interventions on mental health outcomes in dental settings.

Purpose Global awareness of athlete maltreatment in elite sport has risen in recent years. However, there is limited research examining the impact of culture on athlete health and well-being. This study aims to examine how perceptions of masculinity contest culture (MCC) influence athlete outcomes. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional survey of national team athletes (n = 111) assessed perceptions of MCC, characterized by four norms: show no weakness, strength and stamina, put work first, and dog eat dog (Berdahl et al., 2018). We examined the connection between MCC and psychological safety, well-being, organizational identification, and mental health. Findings The results indicated that higher levels of MCC were associated with increased anxiety and depression and decreased psychological safety, organizational identification and well-being. Exploratory analyses revealed preliminary evidence that psychological safety may mediate the relationship between MCC and both organizational identification and well-being. Originality/value This study is the first to apply the MCC framework to elite sport, extending prior research on MCC and related outcomes. Findings suggest that organizational culture, particularly masculine norms, undermine athlete health and well-being. This work adds to the growing call for culture change in sport, emphasizing the need to foster psychologically safe environments throughout athletes’ careers.

Combining mixed methods and case study research

This study examined the perceived talent development environment (TDE) of youth track and field athletes within the Caribbean region and explores the relationship with their subjective wellbeing and burnout levels. A sample of 400 Caribbean youth track and field athletes (male = 198, and female = 202; age 13–20 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Athletes responded to a survey which included the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5), the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Structural equation modelling showed that a positive and supportive TDE was associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower athlete burnout. Moreover, gender and hours of training moderated relationships of athletes’ perceptions of their development environment with wellbeing and burnout levels respectively. Furthermore, there was a positive association between the support network and athlete wellbeing, while holistic quality preparation was negatively associated with athlete burnout. Development environments perceived as supportive and geared towards a holistic athlete-centred approach were associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower burnout.

The impact of identity leadership on team functioning and well-being in team sport: Is psychological safety the missing link?

Psychological safety and mental health among intensive care unit nurses: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate coach-initiated motivational climate and its relationship with athlete well-being, resilience, and psychological safety in competitive sport. In addition to independent relationships between task- and ego-related climates and the study outcomes, this research also explored the potential additive effects of task and ego climate together to understand if a task climate can buffer against the negative impacts of an ego climate. Self-report survey data were collected from competitive soccer players across Ontario, Canada ( N = 298; Mage = 20.38; 58.72% male). Using multiple linear regression, a perceived task-related climate was a significant positive predictor of well-being ( ß = .33), resilience ( ß = .31), and psychological safety ( ß = .54, all ps < .001). A higher perceived ego-related climate was a significant negative predictor of psychological safety ( ß = −.23, p < .001), and not significantly related to well-being and resilience. Partial support for the additive effect of task- and ego-related climate together was found for psychological safety, but not well-being or resilience. Specifically, athletes in the latent profile characterized by average task and higher ego scored higher on psychological safety compared with lower task and higher ego climate perceptions. The increase in psychological safety between these two profiles was observed despite both having higher ego-related climates. Although future research is required, the findings offer meaningful contributions to theory and practice in the context of competitive soccer teams.