Individual Difference Moderators of Interpersonal and Intrapsychic Reactions to Hostile-Controlling Coaching Behaviors

Hostile-controlling coaching behaviors, which can include screaming obscenities and placing blame on the athletes, can lead to counterproductive responses such as withdrawal from sport and decreased performance. Research has shown individuals who perceive coaches to be blaming increase their own self-blame (Conroy & Coatsworth, 2007). Individual difference variables may moderate how athletes respond to hostile-controlling coaching behaviors. The purpose of the current research was to examine fear of failure, need for achievement, and self-esteem as individual difference moderators of interpersonal and intrapsychic reactions to hostile controlling coaching behaviors. After controlling for autonomy support, fear of failure and self-esteem were significant predictors of self-blame. Self-esteem significantly predicted differences in self-affirmation