When does perceived coach autonomy support enhances change in athletes’ subjective vitality? The multilevel moderating role of grateful climate

Grounded in self-determination theory, this study explores the positive impact of perceived coach autonomy support on athletes' subjective vitality. Additionally, we posit that a grateful climate, functioning as a socio-cultural structure, plays a crucial cross-level moderator. A total of 203 athletes from 32 sports teams were included in the analysis. Employing a time-lagged design, our results reveal a significant predictive relationship between perceived coach autonomy support and changes in subjective vitality. Moreover, a noteworthy cross-level moderating effect of the grateful climate emerged. In teams characterized by a high grateful climate, the relationship between perceived coach autonomy support and athletes' subjective vitality is strengthened, and such an effect is not validated in teams with a low grateful climate. These findings are consistent with our expectations, affirming not only the replication of previous research but also emphasizing the importance of a grateful climate as a cultural structural factor in this context.