Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Identifying Psychological Patterns in Sports Coaches: A Cluster Analysis of Early Maladaptive Schemas

Document Type : Original research

Authors
Zahedeh Rahmanian 1
AliReaza Aghababa 2
1 Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Educational science, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Sport Psychology, Sport Sciences Research Institute Tehran, Iran.
10.22089/spsyj.2026.19051.2655
Abstract
Objective: Sports enhance mental health and individual and team success, and coaches, through their leadership style—which is influenced by psychological patterns and early maladaptive schemas—affect athletes' performance and psyche. This study aimed to identify the psychological patterns of sports coaches based on cluster analysis of their early maladaptive schemas.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical study with a cluster approach. The statistical population included sports coaches active in clubs in Iran in 2023, of whom 297 were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included a demographic questionnaire and the Young Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire (2005). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, hierarchical cluster analysis, K-means clustering, path analysis, and ANOVA.
Findings: Cluster analysis identified four distinct psychological patterns: a healthy and adaptive type (mean schema score: 0.03) with balanced emotions and supportive leadership; a controlling or inhibiting type (mean: 0.30) with the highest activation of emotional inhibition schemas (β = 0.76) and unrelenting standards (β = 0.74); a maladaptive and emotionally vulnerable type (mean: +1.23) with high dependency and subjugation schemas; and a defensive and denial type (mean: -2.35, up to -4.27) with severe emotional suppression. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between clusters across all schemas (p < 0.01), and psychological pattern was also related to gender (p < 0.01) and competitive level (p = 0.03).
Conclusion: The combination of early maladaptive schemas in sports coaches leads to distinct psychological patterns, the identification of which can contribute to improving psychological training, leadership style, burnout prevention, and team performance enhancement.
Keywords
Personality Type
Sports Coaches
Psychological Patterns
Early Maladaptive Schemas
Cluster Analysis
Subjects
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Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 15, Issue 56
Spring 2026
Pages 119-142

  • Receive Date 09 January 2026
  • Revise Date 19 March 2026
  • Accept Date 29 March 2026