Psychological safety, interpersonal trust and personal flourishing: what’s in it for coaches?
Download this article Sophia Jowett */**, Annabel Powell *** and Jose Roberto Andrade Do Nascimento Junior ****
(*) Guildhall School of Music and Drama, United Kingdom
(**) Tandem Performance Consulting, United Kingdom
(***) Loughborough University, United Kingdom
(****) Universidade Federal do Vale do Sao Franscisco, Brazil
Citation
Jowett, S., Powell, A., Andrade Do Nascimento Junior, J.R. (2026). Psychological safety, interpersonal trust and personal flourishing: what’s in it for coaches?. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 57(1), 1-17. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2026.57.001
Abstract
In light of the limited research revolving around interpersonal environments and coaches’ wellbeing, this study aimed to explore the associations between psychological safety, interpersonal trust and flourishing among coaches operating in artistic gymnastics. A total of 53 gymnastic coaches participated and completed a multi-section questionnaire to measure coaches’ perceptions of psychological safety and interpersonal trust within a coach-athlete relationship, as well as perceptions of personal flourishing. Employing structural equation modelling, it was found that coaches who feel psychologically safe with a designated athlete and trust that athlete are more likely to experience high levels of personal flourishing reflected in a rewarding, meaningful and optimistic life. It was revealed that a coach’s perceptions of psychological safety increase their personal flourishing, when trust in the athlete is strong. Quality coach-athlete relationships where trust is high, plays an integral role in the interpersonal exchanges necessary for coaches to perceive they are psychologically safe to express freely themselves within the context of the dyadic coach-athlete relationship; this experience, in turn, increases coaches’ flourishing. This study adds to the growing evidence that demonstrate the contributions psychological safety and quality relationships make to the creation of environments that benefit coaches and athletes alike. Importantly, it highlights the power of the interpersonal environment to coaches’ personal outcomes. The discussion provides links between theory, research and practice.
Keywords: Coaching, Gymnastics, Performance, Wellbeing, Collaboration