Introduction Authentic leadership is a form of leadership which could result in positive outcomes in athletes, yet, it has received limited research attention in sport. We conducted two studies, in which we investigated: (a) whether authentic leadership is related to athletes’ achievement and moral outcomes via trust and the culture of the team (Study 1); and (b) whether authentic leadership is related to changes in athlete outcomes directly and indirectly through changes in trust and cohesion over time (Study 2). MethodIn both studies data were collected via questionnaires. In Study 1, participants were 366 (240 females, Mage = 21.07) team sport athletes. In Study 2, they were 421 (227 females, Mage = 20.32) team sport athletes at time 1 and 247 athletes at time 2 (5 months later). ResultsIn Study 1, authentic leadership was positively related to athletes’ trust and team culture which in turn were related to athletes’ commitment, positive affect and perceptions of their teammates’ prosocial behaviours. In Study 2, changes over time in authentic leadership were related to athletes’ perceptions of their teammates’ prosocial behaviours and enjoyment, both directly and indirectly via changes in trust and cohesion.ConclusionsOur findings enhance our understanding of authentic leadership in sport and highlight its importance in predicting crucial positive athlete outcomes.
Religiosity and prosocial behaviours in adolescence: the mediating role of prosocial values
