Comparing Burnout in Sport Specializing vs. Sport Sampling Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate psychological burnout in adolescent athletes who sport specialize compared to adolescent athletes who sport sample. A systematic review was performed using the PubMed, Sport Discuss, PsychInfo, and CINHAL databases (inception – May 2019) according to PRISMA-IPD guidelines. Results from the three measures of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire and athlete specialization status were recorded and analyzed. 8 out of 3,578 studies met criteria for final meta-analysis, which included 1,431 athletes (mean age: 15.54 years, mean age range: 12.5-17.2 years). Of these,1,371 (95.9%) were sport specializers, while 58 (4.1%) were sport samplers. 1,422 (99.6%) completed the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Athletes who specialized reported higher levels of burnout than athletes who did not specialize. Specializers had a greater sense of reduced accomplishment (Difference of means (M) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [0.67, 1.08], p < 0.01). Specializers also reported greater exhaustion (M = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.24, 0.68], p < 0.01) and more sport devaluation (M = 0.41, 95% CI = [0.22, 0.60], p < 0.01) than athletes who were samplers. Adolescent sport specialization is associated with higher levels of burnout in all three aspects (reduced sense of accomplishment, sport devaluation, and exhaustion) compared to athletes who sample multiple different sports.