The cohesion–performance relationship in sport: a 10-year retrospective meta-analysis

The purposes of this meta-analysis were to: (a) examine the direction and magnitude of the cohesion–performance relationship in studies published between 2000 and 2010 and (b) explore moderators of this relationship. A total of 118 effect sizes were calculated. Results revealed a statistically significant (a) moderate relationship between overall cohesion and performance (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), (b) large relationship between task cohesion and performance (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), and (c) small relationship between social cohesion and performance (r = 0.11, p < 0.01). Gender, athletes’ skill level, sport type, and performance were found to be significant moderators of the cohesion–performance relationship. These results are interpreted in relation to previous research and theoretical frameworks on cohesion and performance in sports.