Elite figure skaters’ experiences of thriving in the coach-athlete relationship: A person-centered theory perspective

Abstract

Carl Rogers’ person-centered theory indicates that genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard (UPR) are critical for nurturing psychological development, well-being, and full functioning (i.e., thriving). While genuineness and empathy have been addressed in sport psychology literature as important for optimal coaching, only the opposites of UPR (i.e., conditional regard, unconditional negative regard, and disregard) have been empirically studied in coach-athlete relationships. Thus, we used a basic qualitative research design to explore eight retired elite figure skaters’ experiences and perceptions of UPR in their relationships with former coaches. Data analysis procedures resulted in the construction of three dimensions: Experiences and perceptions of UPR, perceived outcomes of UPR, and UPR as a buffer for conditions from other sources. Results indicate that UPR was perceived by participants through coaches’ unconditional acceptance, respect, engagement, belief in, and challenge of them in times of both failure and success. Participants reported that perceived UPR from their coach meaningfully contributed to their development of positive self-regard, trust in their coach, motivation, and confidence which positively impacted sport performance. Further, participants shared that perceived UPR from coaches buffered their internalization of conditions of worth from parents or cultural norms within figure skating. Lay Summary: We discuss retired elite figure skaters’ perceptions and experiences of unconditional acceptance, respect, engagement, belief, and challenge in their relationships with former coaches. Participants’ reported that these experiences meaningfully contributed to their development of positive self-regard, trust in their coach, sport motivation, confidence, and performance, and buffered their internalization of conditions of worth from parents or the sport culture at large.