Ackeret, Nadja (2025). The Contribution of Self-Compassion and Social Support to the Mental Health of Coaches and Athletes in Elite Sport. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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Abstract
The mental health of athletes and coaches in elite sports has become a growing focus in both research and practice, yet there remains a gap in understanding how key psychosocial factors, such as self-compassion and social support, contribute to mental health and well-being in this high-performance context. This dissertation addresses this gap by examining the roles of self-compassion and social support in promoting mental health among athletes and coaches, adopting a comprehensive approach grounded in established psychological models. The research explores three primary questions, utilizing two longitudinal designs for coaches and a mixed-methods approach for transitioning elite athletes. The first research question investigates the long-term stability of burnout, self-compassion, and social support in sports coaches. This was explored through a longitudinal study, revealing high interindividual, intraindividual, and structural stability over six months. The findings demonstrate that, at each measurement point, self-compassion and social support were negatively associated with burnout, providing important insights into the psychological resilience of coaches. The second research question expands the literature on positive mental health in coaches by focusing on the longitudinal measurement of emotional, psychological, and social well-being using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form. This study confirms the stability of positive mental health in coaches, highlighting the validity of the Mental Health Continuum Short Form as an instrument for tracking positive mental health over time in sports contexts. The third research question focuses on elite athletes, exploring the role of self-compassion and social support during the junior-to-senior transition. A mixed-methods study investigates how these psychosocial resources help athletes navigate the stress of this transition, as well as the strategies and challenges they encounter. The results demonstrate that self-compassion plays a critical role in managing anxiety, depression, and well-being, while the role of social support requires further exploration, as it serves as both a major resource and a potential challenge when not adequately provided. The results of this dissertation are integrated into the broader research field, and practical implications for mental health interventions in elite sports are offered. The dissertation also acknowledges the strengths and limitations of the research and suggests avenues for future investigation to enhance mental health support structures in high-performance sports environments.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Dissertation Type: | Cumulative |
| Date of Defense: | 15 January 2025 |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology |
| Institute / Center: | 07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Sarah Stalder |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Jan 2026 12:34 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Jan 2026 23:25 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/7037 |
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