Sports coaches’ depression literacy, and engagement in prevention and early intervention behaviors: A moderated mediation analysis

Abstract Coaches’ mental health literacy is associated with increased engagement in prevention and early intervention behaviors. However, few studies have explored the factors that may influence these relationships. The purpose of this study was to explore whether role breadth and role efficacy mediate the relationship between coach depression literacy and prevention and early intervention, and to assess whether gender or stigma moderates any mediation effects. One thousand and forty five coaches (M = 42.71 years old; SD = 11.52; 30% female) completed an online survey exploring depression literacy, personal stigma, role breadth and efficacy and engagement in prevention and early intervention. Path analysis was conducted, followed by mediation and moderated-mediation analyzes. The overarching model for each behavior was confirmed. Role efficacy but not role breadth partially mediated the relationship between depression literacy and each behavior. Gender did not moderate any mediation relationships. Personal stigma moderated the relationship between depression literacy and prevention and early intervention. Coaches with lower levels of personal stigma, reported higher levels of depression literacy and were more confident to engage in prevention and early intervention. Increasing coaches’ knowledge and confidence may lead to increased engagement in prevention and early intervention. However, for coaches with high levels of personal stigma, approaches that go beyond the provision of knowledge may be required.  Lay summary: This study explores the relationship between coaches’ knowledge of depression and their engagement in behaviors that support young people’s mental health. It also examines how confident coaches feel to engage in these behaviors and whether the gender or stigmatizing attitudes of coaches might influence these relationships.