Mindfulness enhances changes in athletes’ subjective vitality: The moderating role of coach interpersonal style

Abstract

Research has found that mindfulness is positively related to subjective vitality. However, whether mindful athletes were shaped by environmental conditions has rarely been investigated. Therefore, based on self-determination theory, the present study investigated how both mindfulness and coach interpersonal style (autonomy support and controlling) jointly affect athletes’ subjective vitality over time. A total of 287 adolescent athletes completed surveys at two time points over three months. In addition, fifty coaches completed coach interpersonal style surveys at Time 1. The results indicated that mindfulness is positively associated with athletes’ changes in subjective vitality. Furthermore, the positive relationship between mindfulness and subjective vitality was stronger under high coach control and low coach autonomy support interpersonal styles. The current study opens a new avenue to investigate athletes’ subjective vitality. Practically, our findings highlight the importance of mindfulness in helping athletes respond to adverse conditions and thus increase athletes’ subjective vitality.