The Relationship between Motivational Types and Burnout in Top Amateur New Zealand Rugby Players

Abstract

1518 Researchers have demonstrated that self-determination theory provides a useful explanation of ill-being, such asdepression (Ryan et al., 1995) and eating disorders (Williams et al., 1996). SDT may also provide a useful explanation of the occurrence of athlete burnout. To date no evidence exists to support links between motivation and burnout. PURPOSE: To examine relationships between burnout and types of motivation differing in degrees of self-determination. METHODS: Data were collected using Raedeke and Smith's (2001) Athlete Burnout Questionnaire and Pelletier et al.'s (1995) Sport Motivation Scale from 392 (25.3 ± 4.3 yrs) top amateur New Zealand male rugby players. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling procedures were employed to evaluate a model specifying a second order burnout latent variable (superior to the three first order syndrome factors of physical and emotional exhaustion, reduced accomplishment and sport devaluation) co-varying with four first order motivation latent variables. Robust fit indices indicated an excellent fit of the model to the data (i.e., NNFI and CFI values > .95; RMSEA < .05). Within the model, amotivation, the least self determined type of motivation, was positively and substantively associated with burnout(r = .62, p< .01). Externally regulated motivation was unrelated to burnout (r = −.04, p> .05). Self-determined forms of motivation (eg., intrinsic motivation stimulation r = −.29, p < .01, and intrinsic motivation accomplishment r = −.22, p< .01) exhibited significant negative associations with burnout. CONCLUSION: The relationships among motivational types and burnout are consistent with SDT contentions and support contentions about the potential utility of SDT for understanding athlete burnout. Future research is required to assess the role of self-determination, or the lack thereof, in the experience of athlete burnout. Supported by a grant from the New Zealand Rugby Union