Latent dimensions of satisfaction with life and general life experience at former athletes (coaches) in Croatia

Abstract

The goal of our study was to fi nd the latent dimensions of the satisfaction with life and general life experience at former athletes (coaches), as well as to fi nd correlations between those dimensions with sociodemographic and variables connected with coaching. We have examined a total of 132 coaches of various sports in Croatia. For measuring satisfaction with life and general life experience, we used Extended Satisfaction With Life Scale (ESWL) and General Life Experience Scale (GLES). We have found three latent dimensions of the satisfaction with life: business and social life, fi tness and life achievement. Four latent dimensions of the general life experience were found: satisfaction and optimism, negative emotions and stress, life quality and daily fatigue. No signifi cant correlations were found between sociodemographic variables two items that describe the coach as someone who could have to be elite former athlete or purposefully educated for coaching. Age and work experience are negatively correlated with business and social life and daily fatigue, but positive with general life achievement. Years in top sport and end of professional career are negatively correlated with business and social life, but positive with general life achievement and negative emotions and stress. We can cautiously say that period of engagement in top sport have more negative than positive implications on subjective well-being.