Protecting and promoting well-being: A qualitative examination of entourage members’ well-being in high-performance sport

In recent years, research on mental health in high-performance sport has expanded substantially, with a growing body of work focusing specifically on well-being. Nonetheless, the well-being of entourage members, including coaches, physiotherapists, parents, dual career support providers, and all individuals who support an athlete's career, remains comparatively underexplored. This gap becomes even more relevant considering that entourage members face several stressors in high-performance sport, such as performance pressure, work-life balance, and role uncertainty and ambiguity. As significant actors within the high-performance environment, entourage members play an important role in shaping athletes’ mental health, performance, and development. The present study explored which tools, resources, and competencies entourage members in high-performance sport use to maintain and promote their well-being. In total, 390 entourage members from six European countries participated in a qualitative online survey. The data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis. We identified four themes: (1) personal development, (2) rest, recovery, and detachment from sport, (3) organisational and relational support, and (4) mental health resources. Entourage members reported several strategies to promote their well-being, including individual resources, such as self-reflection and leisure activities, as well as organisational resources, such as supportive and attentive leadership and education opportunities. Findings from this study can inform organisational practices and policies to create a supportive environment that promotes the well-being of all the members of high-performance sport organisations.