The Impact of Coach's Authentic Leadership as Perceived by Para Table Tennis Athletes on Sport Engagement

This study aims to analyze the impact of coaches' authentic leadership as perceived by para table tennis athletes on their sport engagement. Data were collected from 157 players who participated in the 2024 A City Mayor’s Cup National Para Table Tennis Tournament using a convenience sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0 and Amos 18.0, employing frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results of the study are as follows: First, significant differences in authentic leadership and sport engagement were observed based on gender, age, sports classification, and daily training hours. Female players and wheelchair-class players perceived their coach's authentic leadership more positively, and longer training hours were associated with higher sport engagement. Second, among the sub-factors of authentic leadership, self-growth was identified as the sole factor significantly influencing both cognitive and behavioral engagement. This indicates that coaches' self-growth plays a critical role in enhancing athletes' engagement. These findings highlight the importance of fostering self-growth among para sports coaches and developing tailored leadership strategies that align with athletes' individual characteristics, such as gender, age, and type of disability.