The Influence of Social and Task Peer-Leaders on Team Cohesion and Collective Efficacy in Sports: A Meta-Analytical Review

Abstract

Background: Effective peer-leadership is paramount to team functioning, as peer-leaders help to facilitate the development of various team processes. Aims: In the present study we examined the influence of social leadership and task leadership on cohesion and collective efficacy. Methods: We adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and searched for relevant papers across six databases. A total of 168 papers were screened. Results: Seven studies, representing 3548 participants and ten different sports, met our inclusion criteria. Our analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between task leadership and social cohesion (r = .26, p< .01), social leadership and social cohesion (r = .23, p = .01), task leadership and collective efficacy (r = .21, p < .01), and social leadership and task cohesion (r = .23, p = .04). Conclusions: These results suggest that developing task leaders will help foster social cohesion and collective efficacy, and that social leaders positively influence teammates’ feelings of cohesion and collective efficacy beliefs. Therefore, practitioners should develop peer-leadership programs that equip athletes with both task and social dimensions.