Author(s): LISINSKIENE, A., LOCHBAUM, M., Institution: VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY, Country: LITHUANIA, Abstract-ID: 2278

31st ECSS Annual Congress, Lausanne/Switzerland, 7-10 July 2026

A Longitudinal Study of Coach–Athlete–Parent (C–A–P) Interactions in a Lithuanian National Youth Basketball Club
Lisinskiene, A., Lochbaum, M.
Vytautas Magnus University

Introduction
The Coach-Athlete-Parent (C-A-P) relationship is a central interpersonal system in youth sport, influencing motivation, well-being, and performance. However, longitudinal research examining CAP dynamics across competitive stages remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate CAP dynamics in a national Lithuanian youth basketball club across A, B, and C levels in age groups U13-U18 during the regular season, playoffs, and finals. The object of the study was interpersonal dynamics within the CAP system.

Methods
Participants were youth basketball athletes aged 12-19 years. Data were collected at three time points: T1 (regular season, n=198), T2 (playoffs, n=204), and T3 (finals, n=150). The matched longitudinal sample included 137 athletes (mean age 14.5 years). Measures included the Positive and Negative Processes in the Coach-Athlete-Parent Questionnaire, the Social-Emotional Health Survey (covitality), the Intrinsic Motivation subscale of the Sport Motivation Scale, and the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 (sport enjoyment and enthusiastic commitment). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Spearman correlations, and multiple regression.

Results
At T1, athletes progressing to playoffs reported lower sport enjoyment than regular season athletes (p=0.021). At T2, finalists demonstrated higher covitality (p=0.022), enthusiastic commitment (p=0.019), and positive CAP processes (p=0.049) than playoff athletes. At T3, athletes competing in finals or playoffs reported higher covitality than regular season athletes (p=0.027). Enthusiastic commitment was strongly associated with sport enjoyment (rs=0.764, p<0.01) and intrinsic motivation (rs=0.683, p<0.01). Regression analysis showed that intrinsic motivation, covitality, and sport enjoyment significantly predicted positive CAP processes, F(3,353)=99.85, p<0.001, explaining 45.9 percent of variance (R2=0.459).

Discussion
CAP dynamics vary across competitive stages and are closely linked to psychological functioning in youth basketball. Higher intrinsic motivation, emotional well-being, and enjoyment were associated with stronger positive interpersonal processes. These findings highlight the importance of supportive motivational climates to enhance athlete development and well-being in competitive youth sport.

Topic: Sports psychology
Presentation: Oral