A longitudinal study on the psychological and physiological predictors of burnout in NCAA collegiate swimmers

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the ability of psychosocial constructs and biomarker measures of overtraining and stress to predict athlete burnout, as mediated by training distress, during a 6-week intense training period. Twenty-three females and 17 male NCAA swimmers completed measures, before training (baseline), of athlete identity, academic identity, mental toughness, pain attitude, and controlling coaching behaviors. Training distress was assessed at 3 weeks. Serum measurement of creatine kinase, myoglobin, testosterone, and cortisol were obtained at baseline and after 6 weeks of intense training. Athlete burnout was also measured at 6 weeks. The full mediation model was non-significant, F(9,30) = 1.23, p = .32. However, the direct effects only model was significant, F(10, 29) = 5.22, p = .001, and accounted for 64% of the variance in burnout symptoms. Controlling coaching behaviors, athletic identity, academic identity, and testosterone/cortisol ratio change were all significant predictors. Our findings provide support for the value of an athletic identity, the deleterious effects of controlling coaches, and the detrimental effects of an academic identity (when narrowly considered in terms of burnout symptoms). The ability of biomarkers of muscle damage as indicators of perceptions of burnout symptoms is questionable. Lay summary: Burnout in swimming is characterized by mental and physical exhaustion, a devaluation of swimming, and successes often becomes less meaningful. Swimmers who train hard, resulting in soreness and fatigue, may not experience such a state as stressful or indicative of burnout. However, controlling coaches and athletes who strongly value academic success may be prone to experiencing burnout symptoms. Strong athletic identities may protect swimmers from burnout symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Coaches should allow their swimmers input into their training. Coaches should be aware that academic demands may contribute to burnout. Coaches should be aware that swimmers with weak athletic identities may be susceptible to burnout.