The Impact of Coaches’ Leadership Styles on Resilience in Female Athletes in Quetta, Pakistan

Abstract

Resilience is a vital psychological attribute that enables athletes to adapt positively to challenges, maintain motivation, and perform effectively under pressure. This study explored the impact of coaches’ leadership styles on the resilience of female athletes in Quetta. A total of 270 female athletes representing different departments, clubs, and teams were selected using the Yamane formula (1979) through a convenient sampling technique. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), consisting of 45 and 25 items respectively, were used to measure leadership styles and resilience. Both instruments demonstrated high reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.890 for the MLQ and 0.822 for the CD-RISC, and an overall reliability of 0.922. Statistical analyses, including the Shapiro–Wilk test, regression analysis, and ANOVA, were employed to examine the data. The Shapiro–Wilk test indicated that the data were not normally distributed (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed a strong relationship (R = 0.833) between leadership styles and resilience, explaining 69.3% of the variance (R² = 0.693). The Durbin–Watson value of 1.560 confirmed no significant autocorrelation, while ANOVA results verified the overall significance of the model (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a highly positive association between leadership styles and resilience (0.883 for MLQ and 0.792 for CD-RISC). These findings emphasize that effective coaching leadership significantly enhances the resilience of female athletes, contributing to their sustained performance, mental strength, and overall well-being.