Investigating the relationship between psychological safety, well-being and performance in youth team sport athletes

Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the linear association between psychological safety and psychological well-being, and psychological well-being and self-perceived individual and team performance in Swedish youth team sport athletes. A cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected through questionnaires of psychological safety, positive affect, negative affect, vitality, individual performance, and team performance from 131 team sport athletes (93 males, 38 females). The variables were measured using the Team Psychological Safety Scale (TPSS), the Positive and Negative Affect short scale (I-PANAS-SF), the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) and a subjective measurement of individual and team performance. Findings from the linear regression analysis showed that negative affect predicted poor team performance. No other significant associations were found. The results from this study are discussed regarding what mechanism may underline the negative affects effect on team performance. Future research could delve deeper into the specific team dynamics that are necessary to cultivate psychological safety.