Abstract
This study was carried out with the goal of examining the relationship between athletes' passion and perfectionism levels and athlete burnout, and to determine to what extent passion and perfectionism scores predict burnout experienced by athletes. A total of 267 athletes, located in various parts of Turkey and competing in various branches of sport, participated in the study on a voluntary basis. Of the participants, 65 were women (mean age: 20.12 ± 3.68 years) and 202 were men (mean age: 20.2 ± 4.04 years). The data collection tools that employed were the Passion Scale, Sport-Specific Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and Athlete Burnout Measure. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Analysis, and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The results of multiple linear regression analysis conducted to test the predictive effects of athletes' passion and perfectionism scores on burnout scores showed that the perfectionism subdimensions of perceived parental pressure and concern over mistakes were significant predictors of the burnout subdimensions of reduced sense of accomplishment and emotional/physical exhaustion. The analysis further revealed that obsessive passion and the perfectionism subdimensions of perceived parental pressure and concern over mistakes were effective in predicting the burnout subdimension of devaluation. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that athletes who have developed obsessive passion toward their sport and have perfectionist tendencies that are not harmonizable will be more prone to experience burnout.
Highlights
The great enthusiasm with which athletic competitions are followed worldwide in recent years demonstrates an increasing interest in sports
The results of this study showed that athletes who exhibit harmonious passion for their sport tend to feel less devaluation, while those who develop obsessive passion experience more intense devaluation and emotional/physical exhaustion
The findings of this study to determine whether athletes' passion and perfectionism scores predict burnout indicate that the negative aspects of perfectionism and burnout increase the burnout experienced in sports, while the positive aspects can delay burnout
Summary
The great enthusiasm with which athletic competitions are followed worldwide in recent years demonstrates an increasing interest in sports. Developments in technology have led to the creation of a sports industry whereby athletes can be enjoyed and watched by the masses anywhere in the world This situation, in turn, has been a factor in determining athletes' high performance goals. Studies in this field have indicated that technical training undertaken by professional athletes focused purely on performance is not sufficient for them to reach their goals, and that psychological factors should be investigated with regard to peak performance goals. In this context, “passion” is a powerful reason for engaging in athletic activity, and one of the most important psychological factors in the athlete's striving for peak. As defined psychologically by Vallerand et al (2003) passion is the inclination of an individual to spend time and energy on what he/she likes (even loves) and considers important [35]
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