Abstract: Coaching
style significantly influences the mental and physical wellness of
student-athletes. This study examined the impact of authoritarian, democratic,
and laissez-faire coaching styles on student-athletes at Federal University
Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from
100 student-athletes through structured questionnaires. Results indicated that
the democratic coaching style was the most commonly experienced (52%), followed
by authoritarian (38%) and laissez-faire (10%). A one-way ANOVA revealed
significant effects of coaching styles on mental wellness variables such as
anxiety (F(2, 97) = 4.72, p = .011), stress (F(2, 97) = 3.89, p = .024), and
self-esteem (F(2, 97) = 6.58, p = .002), highlighting the psychological
influence of coaching methods. Furthermore, MANOVA results showed a significant
multivariate effect of coaching styles on physical wellness variables: injury
rates, physical fitness, and nutrition (p < .05). Follow-up ANOVAs showed
that coaching styles significantly influenced injury rates (F(2, 100) = 4.78, p
= .011, η² = .09), physical fitness (F(2, 100) = 5.65, p = .005, η² = .105),
and nutrition (F(2, 100) = 3.92, p = .023, η² = .075). Student-athletes also
perceived their coaches positively in terms of fairness (M = 4.05, SD = 0.79)
and communication (M = 3.95, SD = 0.86), though lower ratings were given for
involvement in decision-making. The findings suggest that democratic coaching
promotes better wellness outcomes. The study recommends adopting democratic
coaching approaches, integrating mental health support into training, and
providing professional development for coaches to improve athlete well-being.
Keywords: Coaching
Style, Student-Athletes, Mental Wellness, and Physical Wellness