Measuring the coach’s compassion through the eyes of their athletes: validity of The Compassionate Coach Scale as perceived by the adolescent athletes

• Published in: Australian psychologist Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 483 - 494
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Sara Margarida Simões, Cunha, Marina Isabel Vieira Antunes, Rosado, António Fernando Boleto, Ferreira, Cláudia Rute Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Taylor & Francis Ltd 02.11.2023
• Subjects: Athletes; Coaches & managers; Factor analysis; Gender; Quantitative psychology
• ISSN: 0005-0067; 1742-9544
• DOI: 10.1080/00050067.2023.2234071

ObjectiveThis study aimed to adapt and test psychometric properties of the CCS-PA in adolescent athletes (The Compassionate Coach Scale as Perceived by the Adolescent Athletes – CCS-PAA).MethodThis study sample included 217 Portuguese adolescent athletes, who practiced different sports and completed self-reported instruments. The factor structure of the CCS-PAA was explored (through Confirmatory Factor Analysis) and its psychometric properties, convergent, external and discriminant validities, and gender invariance were examined.ResultsResults confirmed the plausibility of the hierarchical structure of the scale, constituted by one higher-order factor (perceived coach’s compassionate qualities) and two lower-order factors (compassionate engagement and compassionate actions). This scale showed high internal consistency, convergent, discriminant validities and it was invariant across gender. CCS-PAA demonstrated associations with social safeness, self-criticism, self-reassurance, perception of performance, and psychological well-being.ConclusionsCCS-PAA seems to be a reliable measure to assess adolescent athletes’ perceptions of their coach’s compassionate qualities. This scale could be an important tool in the sports context, as it can help to identify a relationship between coach and athlete based on comprehension, support, and kindness in difficult and suffering times for the athlete, especially in a challenging stage of development: adolescence.