Improving collegiate student-athletes’ well-being: exploring the roles of openness to experience, knowledge sharing and perceived coaching effectiveness

Abstract

IntroductionCollegiate student-athletes often encounter various stressors stemming from academic study and athletic training, which can potentially have negative effects on their well-being. This study investigates how collegiate student-athletes’ openness to experience and their engagement in knowledge sharing influence their well-being, as well as the moderating role of perceived coaching effectiveness.MethodsTo examine these relationships, we propose and test a conceptual framework using an online survey conducted among collegiate student-athletes from a southeastern province of China. The participants consisted of 484 collegiate student-athletes who voluntarily participated in the study. We used regression analysis and mediation analysis to test the proposed relationships among the variables.ResultsOpenness to experience has a positive impact on knowledge sharing (β = 0.552, p < 0.05); knowledge sharing with peers positively affects collegiate student-athlete well-being (β = 0.415, p < 0.05) and mediates the relationship between openness to experience and collegiate student-athlete well-being (β = 0.086, p < 0.05). Perceived coaching effectiveness positively moderates the relationship between openness to experience and knowledge sharing (β = 0.170, p < 0.05).DiscussionOur study contributes to the collegiate student-athlete literature by shedding light on the factors that influence their well-being, with insights that bear important managerial implications for universities and coaches.

Assessment of Pedagogical Contributions toward Enhancing Physical Activity within the Secondary School Physical Education Curricula in Southwestern China

“…It fosters physical fitness, national pride, and cultural identity. PE in China is deeply embedded in its historical significance [29]. Traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and Tai Chi have highlighted the importance of overall health and the interconnection between mind and body for millennia [27].…”

“…The Chinese government also promotes physical fitness and sports participation among its citizens through ambitious initiatives [28,31]. National programs such as "The National Fitness Program" and "Sports for All" demonstrate that the government is committed to ensuring that sports and PAs are accessible to all members of society [29]. China still faces challenges in PE, despite its impressive achievements and initiatives.…”