Effect of the coach–athlete relationship on engagement among Chinese athletes: Life satisfaction as a mediator

We examined the underlying mechanisms of the association between the coach–athlete relationship and athlete engagement, with an emphasis on the mediating role of athletes’ life satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 272 athletes affiliated with a Chinese local sports bureau. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and we employed structural equation modeling to analyze the data and examine the interrelationships among the coach–athlete relationship, life satisfaction, and athlete engagement. The findings revealed a positive association between the coach–athlete relationship and athlete engagement, and further demonstrated that life satisfaction partially mediated this relationship. These results contribute to the existing body of knowledge by expanding on previous research and offering novel insights into the impact of the coach–athlete relationship on athlete engagement.