Relationship between stress and autonomy-supportive coaching style perceived by university taekwondo athletes: verifying communication as a mediator

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of communication in the relationship between autonomy-support coaching type and stress perceived by university Taekwondo athletes. Studying communication as a parameter from the psychological aspect is very important in sports psycho-social research. METHODS: The study subjects were 175 university Taekwondo athletes who registered in the Korea Taekwondo Association in 2020. These study participants completed a survey that measured autonomy support coaching, communication, and stress. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS18.0, AMOS 18.0 program. RESULTS: First, autonomy support coaching style had a significant negative effect on stress. Second, autonomy support coaching type had a significant positive effect on communication. Third, communication had a significant negative effect on stress. Fourth, autonomy-support coaching type had a significant negative indirect effect on stress through communication. CONCLUSIONS: The communication between coaches and athletes should be actively utilized to contribute to improving performance in the sports field.