No pain, no gain? Masculinity contest culture in elite sport

Purpose Global awareness of athlete maltreatment in elite sport has risen in recent years. However, there is limited research examining the impact of culture on athlete health and well-being. This study aims to examine how perceptions of masculinity contest culture (MCC) influence athlete outcomes. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional survey of national team athletes (n = 111) assessed perceptions of MCC, characterized by four norms: show no weakness, strength and stamina, put work first, and dog eat dog (Berdahl et al., 2018). We examined the connection between MCC and psychological safety, well-being, organizational identification, and mental health. Findings The results indicated that higher levels of MCC were associated with increased anxiety and depression and decreased psychological safety, organizational identification and well-being. Exploratory analyses revealed preliminary evidence that psychological safety may mediate the relationship between MCC and both organizational identification and well-being. Originality/value This study is the first to apply the MCC framework to elite sport, extending prior research on MCC and related outcomes. Findings suggest that organizational culture, particularly masculine norms, undermine athlete health and well-being. This work adds to the growing call for culture change in sport, emphasizing the need to foster psychologically safe environments throughout athletes’ careers.