Vaithehy Shanmugam

Collective efficacy as a mediator of the association between interpersonal relationships and athlete satisfaction in team sports.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether collective efficacy can mediate the association between (a) coach-athlete relationship and athlete satisfaction and (b) team cohesion and athlete satisfaction. The sample consisted of 135 Greek-Cypriot athletes who participated in interactive sports and responded to four questionnaires including the Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sport, Greek Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire, Group Environment Questionnaire and three subscales of the Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results from a series of regression analyses indicated that dimensions of collective efficacy have the capacity to explain the association between the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and athlete satisfaction as well as between team cohesion and athlete satisfaction. Unity, preparation, and ability were dimensions of collective efficacy that appeared to be the best mediators. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Use of the Compulsive Exercise Test With Athletes: Norms and Links With Eating Psychopathology

This study assessed the 5-factor structure of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) and explored the relationship between compulsive exercise and eating psychopathology in athletes. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of the CET were conducted with 689 competitive athletes (18–35 years of age). Convergent validity with the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was explored. The 5-factor structure showed a poor fit; an alternative 3-factor structure is proposed. Exercising for weight control and exercising to avoid a negative mood were strongly associated with eating psychopathology. Implications for using the CET with athletes are discussed.

Relational coaching in sport: Its psychological underpinnings and practical effectiveness

This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology on 8 February 2016, available online: http://www.routledge.com/9781138022423.

Eating psychopathology as a risk factor for depressive symptoms in a sample of British athletes

Abstract Within the clinical literature it is accepted that there is a strong connection between eating disorders and depression; however the nature of the casual relationship is somewhat unclear. Therefore the aim of the present study was to determine the prospective relationship between eating psychopathology and depressive symptoms among competitive British athletes. A total of 122 athletes completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and the depression subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90R over a 6-month period. Partial correlations revealed that when controlling for baseline eating psychopathology, athletes’ baseline depressive symptoms was not related to their eating psychopathology 6 months later. However, when controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, athletes’ initial eating psychopathology was positively and significantly related to depressive symptoms 6 months later. Subsequent hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed athletes’ initial levels of eating psychopathology significantly predicted depressive symptoms 6 months later. The current findings support the assertion that elevated eating psychopathology serves as a potential risk factor for the development of depression in athletes. Thus, National Governing Bodies, athletic clubs, sport organisations and universities need to recognise and be aware that exposure to the factors that increase the risk of eating disorders inadvertently serves to increase athletes’ vulnerability for depression.