Athlete Burnout Research Articles

An examination of the relationship between burnout and grit in college athletes

Burnout symptoms are a detrimental concern many athletes have at some point throughout their athletic careers. In order to assist athletes with performing at their optimal level, there is a need to better understand the burnout phenomena and the ways it can interact with other performance variables, such as grit. Given that grit is a predictor of success in a variety of domains (e.g., Duckworth & Yeager, 2015; Eskreis-Winkler et al., 2014; Fernández-Martin et al., 2020), the purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between grit and burnout. It was hypothesized that there would be an inverse correlation between grit and burnout. Grit and burnout data was collected from Division I student-athletes (n = 241) towards the end of their competitive seasons. Further, the student-athletes year in college was considered as a potential moderator between grit and burnout. The results indicated that student-athletes who scored higher in grit, also scored higher in burnout, hence the hypothesis was not supported. Additionally, there was a stronger positive relationship between grit and burnout for first-year students and sophomores, when compared with juniors and seniors. It is plausible athletes who are grittier are more likely to persevere through stress and challenges, including burnout symptoms, especially during their first two years of college. Athletes higher in grit may also be investing more effort into their sport, which could be increasing symptoms of burnout, as well. The results of this study warrant further investigation to clarify the interaction between grit and athlete burnout.

Perfectionism and Adolescent Athletes’ Burnout: The Serial Mediation of Motivation and Coping Style

Preventing and reducing adolescent athletes’ risk of burnout can help promote long-term sports participation, improve performance, and maintain psychological well-being. The present study examined the associations between perfectionism and burnout among Chinese adolescent athletes and the mediating role of motivation and coping styles. A total of 243 Chinese adolescent athletes (78% boys; Mage = 17.8; SD = 2.62) completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale for China, the Situational Motivation Scale22, the Coping Scale for Chinese Athletes, and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire to assess perfectionism (strivings and concerns), coping styles (problem-focused and emotion-focused), motivation (intrinsic and amotivation), and burnout. Path analyses indicated that intrinsic motivation and coping styles (problem-focused and emotion-focused) serially mediated the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and burnout. Problem-focused coping mediated the relationship between perfectionistic concerns and burnout. These findings contribute to a model of the effect of perfectionism on adolescent athletes’ burnout, provide support for the self-determination theory, and suggest a feasible approach for mitigating burnout in this group.

Differences in predicting athletic burnout and in moderating its relationship with life satisfaction in competitive and leisure athletes

The effects of athletic burnout on life satisfaction vary greatly between individuals, but few studies have examined influencing factors, such as coping mechanisms, that explain these differences. While athletes’ performance levels seem to influence the development of burnout symptoms, there is a lack of studies examining different performance levels separately. The present study therefore investigated the predictors of athletic burnout in competitive and leisure athletes separately, as well as possible moderators influencing the relationship between burnout and life satisfaction in these groups. A cross-sectional online study with sport-specific and general questionnaires was conducted. Latent (e.g., resilience) and manifest variables (e.g., stress) were included as predictors of athletic burnout in two structural equation models (competitive: robust RMSEA = 0.065, robust CFI = 0.946; leisure: robust RMSEA = 0.067, robust CFI = 0.937) with data from 422 athletes (Mage = 23.65; range = 16–67; 43% female, 57% male). Additionally, moderation analyses with coping mechanisms as moderators between burnout and life satisfaction were conducted. Results show that predictors of athletic burnout differ between performance levels. Furthermore, there is a significant moderation effect (p < 0.01) for positive self-concept in competitive sports. Approaches for future research and the development of target group-specific interventions are discussed.

Psychophysiological markers of athlete burnout: a call to arms.

Burnout is a growing problem in high-performance sport and has negative consequences for athletes (e.g., mental ill-health). It is therefore important to effectively monitor athlete burnout to aid intervention efforts. While self-report measures are available (e.g., athlete burnout questionnaire), the limitations associated with these measures (e.g., social desirability bias) means that objective physiological markers may also be useful. Thus, this article critically discusses potential biomarkers of athlete burnout, drawing on research inside and outside of sport to offer an overview of the current state-of-the-art in this research area. First, it outlines what athlete burnout is, its deleterious consequences, and discusses existing psychological assessments. The article then critically discusses literature on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (e.g., salivary cortisol) and autonomic nervous system (e.g., heart rate variability) indices of burnout, highlighting some promising biomarkers for future research (e.g., salivary cortisol at bedtime, vagally-mediated heart rate variability at rest). Finally, the article concludes by highlighting key considerations and offering recommendations for future research (e.g., use of more homogenous methods in assessing burnout and physiological parameters). As a result, the intention of this article is to spark more higher quality research on the psychophysiology of athlete burnout, thereby helping tackle this prominent issue in high-performance sport.

A multi-sample examination of the relationship between athlete burnout and sport performance

Athlete burnout potentially has negative consequences for sport performance. However, to the best of our knowledge, empirical studies have yet to examine the relationship between athlete burnout and objective sport performance. Consequently, we aimed to provide a first such examination. To do so, we recruited three samples. We used Sample 1 (n = 106: track and field athletes) to examine the predictive utility of athlete burnout on a single performance, Sample 2 (n = 181: swimmers) to examine whether the findings from Sample 1 can be replicated in a different sport, and Sample 3 (n = 169: track and field athletes) to examine the predictive utility of athlete burnout on peak performance in a three-month period. Finally, having captured three samples each assessing the athlete burnout-performance relationship, we also sought to quantify the combined effect across these samples using a relatively new analytical technique – mini meta-analysis. Results from regression analyses showed that in at least two of the three samples total burnout, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation each negatively predicted performance, whereas emotional and physical exhaustion was unrelated to performance. When we combined the samples, mini meta-analysis showed that total burnout, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation each displayed a small-to-medium negative and significant meta-correlation with performance. The findings suggest that certain athlete burnout symptoms may indeed have negative consequences for sport performance, and that this is the case when considering a single performance and peak performance.

Burnout profiles among esports players: Associations with mental toughness and resilience

ABSTRACT The present study investigated burnout among esports players and its association with mental toughness and resilience. Esports players (N = 453; Mage = 23.0, SD = 4.18; in the top 40% of in-game rank) from seven team-based esports completed the Athlete Burnout Scale (ABO-S), Mental Toughness Questionnaire 18 (MTQ-18), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Latent profile analysis identified three distinct burnout profiles: “low burnout risk” (LBR; 33.8%), “medium burnout risk” (MBR; 28.0%), and “high burnout risk” (HBR; 38.3%). Low burnout profiles were associated with higher mental toughness and resilience. The LBR profile was characterized by low levels of reduced accomplishment (RA), physical exhaustion (PE), and negative feelings (NF), while [MBR and HBR reported similar PE and NF scores but] differed in RA, with HBR showing the highest RA and total burnout. This study is the first to show distinct burnout profiles among esports players, indicating a significant prevalence of burnout symptoms. This should be monitored by both players and support staff (e.g. club managers, programme managers, and high-performance support staff). Additionally, mental toughness and resilience appear to play a protective role against burnout.

Social support and achievement motivation: Can they alleviate burnout in swimming athletes?

Background and Study Aim. In the world of sport, boredom is detrimental because it can affect performance and decrease achievement. Coaches and athletes should pay attention to boredom as an early potential warning signal to potentially become more severe. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of social support and achievement motivation in alleviating burnout in swimming athletes. Materials and Methods. This quantitative research employs an ex post facto approach. The participants in this study were members of the Sleman Regency swimming club in Yogyakarta, totaling 73 athletes (43 males, 30 females). The social support instrument used was The Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (PASSQ), the motivation instrument used was The Sports Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ), and the burnout instrument used was the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). The analysis was performed using regression techniques in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 software. Results. The results showed that social support (t = ‑2.773, p = 0.007) and achievement motivation (t = ‑2.777, p = 0.007) had a negative and significant effect on burnout in swimming athletes. Conclusions. It can be concluded that social support and achievement motivation can alleviate burnout in swimming athletes, with an influence of 31.20%.

Coach-athlete attachment and athlete burnout: testing longitudinal mediation via cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression

ABSTRACT Athlete burnout is a psychological syndrome that leads to emotional and physical exhaustion, a reduced sense of achievement, and sport devaluation among athletes. Drawing on attachment theory and the emotion regulation model of attachment, this study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of the relationship between coach-athlete attachment and athlete burnout. We employed a two-wave longitudinal design method to track 352 adult athletes in China, from which 258 completed the entire data collection (Mage = 22.2; SD = 3.2 years; 68.2% male). Results of the cross-lagged panel model for a half-longitudinal design showed that secure attachment was negatively linked to athlete burnout through cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, and avoidant attachment was positively linked to athlete burnout through expressive suppression. Our study applies attachment theory to the literature on athlete burnout and emphasises the importance of emotion regulation. The findings encourage coaches and sports-related therapists to develop appropriate interventions targeting attachment style and cognitive reappraisal training to reduce the risk of athlete burnout.

Examining the link between coach-athlete relationship and athlete burnout among college soccer players: the mediating role of training satisfaction.

Athlete burnout is an adverse factor that usually decreases athletes' sports performance and reduces their passion for athletic career development. The present study examined the association of coach-athlete relationship, training satisfaction, and athlete burnout, and then explored the training satisfaction as a mediating role of the effect of coach-athlete relationship on athlete burnout among college soccer players. Soccer players from seven Chinese higher education institutions were recruited for the study. The participants were selected using stratified random sampling and included 218 participants. The Coach-Athlete Relationship Scale, Training Satisfaction Scale, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire were used to collect data from the participants. Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and bootstrap method were conducted to analyze the collected data set. The results showed that (1) there was a significant correlation between coach-athlete relationship, training satisfaction, and athlete burnout. (2) coach-athlete relationship and training satisfaction significantly negatively predicted athlete burnout (β = -0.39, p < 0.001; β = - 0.29, p < 0.001). (3) training satisfaction had a significantly mediating effect on the relationship between coach-athlete relationship and athlete burnout (β = -0.15, p < 0.001, ES = 0.28). Coach-athlete relationship can not only directly negative impact athlete burnout but can also negatively influence athlete burnout through the mediating effect of training satisfaction. Therefore, we suggest the following to alleviate athlete burnout: on one hand, coaches can provide more communication opportunities for athletes to improve the coach-athlete relationship. On the other hand, teams can enhance training satisfaction by building team culture.

The Relationship Between Coaches’ Leadership Styles and Athletes’ Burnout Among UiTM Perlis Athletes

Burnout among athletes can be influenced by many factors and one of the most significant factors that influence athletes towards burnout is the leadership involved in their particular sports. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the preferred coaches’ leadership styles, levels of athletes’ burnout, and to investigate the relationship between coaches’ leadership styles and athletes’ burnout among UiTM Perlis athletes. A total of 164 athletes (85 males and 79 females) participated in this study. The Revised Leadership Scale for Sport and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire were used to collect data. Further, the data were analysed by using means and standard deviation of each item. Meanwhile, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between coaches’ leadership styles and athletes’ burnout. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; .05. Results revealed that positive feedback was the most preferred coaches’ leadership styles among UiTM Perlis athletes (M = 4.24, SD = .54). Results also showed that the overall score for burnout among athletes was considered low to moderate (M = 2.52, SD = .70). Pearson correlation test showed that there was a significant relationship between coaches’ leadership styles of autocratic behaviour (r = .385, p = .001), training and instruction (r = -.269, p = .001), positive feedback (r = -.295, p = .001), situational consideration (r = -.217, p = .005) and athletes’ burnout. Thus, this finding revealed that when coaches provided more training and instruction, more positive feedback, more situational consideration, and less autocratic behaviour tend to be associated with lower levels of burnout among athletes due to the expertise of coaches that could influence the athletes’ psychological well-being.

Effects of coaches' autonomy support on athletes' aggressive behavior and athlete burnout: verification of the mediating effects of coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy.

This study investigated the relationships between perceived autonomy support, coach-athlete relationship, team efficacy, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout among team sports athletes. It verified the mediating effects of the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy on the relationship between autonomy support and athlete burnout. A questionnaire survey on autonomy support, coach-athlete relationships, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout was administered to 336 team sports athletes (292 male athletes and 44 female athletes). A cross-sectional research design was used to collect the data. To analyze the collected data, frequency, reliability, descriptive statistical, and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity tests, and structural model analysis were conducted using AMOS version 24.0. Bootstrapping was used to examine the mediating effects. The fit of the measurement model was assessed by calculating the fit indices as follows: x 2 = 329.689, df = 124, p < 0.001, TLI = 0.945, CFI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.070 (90% CI = 0.061-0.080), and SRMR = 0.060. Autonomy support positively affected the coach-athlete relationship (β = 0.841) and team efficacy (β = 0.338). The coach-athlete relationship positively affected team efficacy (β = 0.479). Furthermore, autonomy support did not significantly influence aggressive behavior (β = -0.053), and negatively affected athlete burnout (β = -0.305). The coach-athlete relationship also did not significantly affect aggressive behavior (β = 0.054), and negatively affected athlete burnout (β = -0.303). Team efficacy negatively affected aggressive behavior (β = -0.516) and athlete burnout (β = -0.201). Finally, autonomy support was found to affect athlete burnout through the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy. Considering that autonomy support affects athlete burnout through coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy, coaches need to enhance the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and improve team efficacy to reduce athlete burnout. Above all, the study findings suggest that coaches need to provide autonomy-supportive behaviors.

Athlete burnout and mental and physical health: A three-wave longitudinal study of direct and reciprocal effects.

Athlete burnout and mental and physical health: A three-wave longitudinal study of direct and reciprocal effects.

Supplemental Material for Athlete Burnout and Mental and Physical Health: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study of Direct and Reciprocal Effects

Supplemental Material for Athlete Burnout and Mental and Physical Health: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study of Direct and Reciprocal Effects

The relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout in college athlete: the mediating roles of competence and autonomy

BackgroundIn the cognitive-affective model of athlete burnout, anxiety is a key physiological response to stress that influences the development of burnout in athletes. Despite its importance, there has been little research on the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, particularly regarding the mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, with a focus on the mediating role of general need satisfaction from self-determination theory.MethodsThe current study employed a cross-sectional design involving 618 college athletes (354 females, mean age 20.57 years), comprising 303 participants in individual sports and 315 in team sports. These participants completed the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale in General (BPNSS-G) online. Subsequently, correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS and JASP to examine the relationships between the variables.ResultsRegression results indicated that somatic anxiety (beta = 0.116, t = 2.21, p = 0.028) and concentration disruption (beta = 0.259, t = 5.35, p < 0.001) in competitive anxiety were positively correlated with athlete burnout. Worry in competitive anxiety was negatively correlated with competence (beta =-0.149, t=-2.70, p = 0.007) and autonomy (beta =-0.179, t=-3.25, p = 0.001) in needs satisfaction. Additionally, the regression results found that competence (beta =-0.178, t=-3.39, p = 0.001) and Autonomy (beta =-0.208, t=-4.17, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with athlete burnout. Mediation analyses revealed significant direct effects in the relationship between somatic anxiety (Effect = 0.116, p = 0.026) along with concentration disruption (Effect = 0.259, p < 0.001) and athlete burnout. In the indirect effect, worry (Effect = 0.071, p = 0.002) as well as concentration disruption (Effect = 0.082, p < 0.001) had significant effects in relation to athlete burnout, respectively.ConclusionsOverall, the current study found that somatic anxiety and concentration disruption in competitive anxiety are related to athlete burnout. Moreover, competence and autonomy in need satisfaction mediated the relationship between competitive anxiety (worry and concentration disruption) and athlete burnout. The findings of this study not only shed further light on the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout but also provide theoretical insights into the mediating mechanisms of this relationship.

The influence of athletes' gratitude on burnout: the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship and hope.

Athlete burnout is a widespread psychological syndrome in competitive sports, negatively impacts athletes' competitive state and hampers the healthy development of sports organizations. With the rise of positive psychology, exploring the mechanisms of athlete psychological fatigue through the lens of psychological capital has become a focal point of recent research. This study introduces gratitude, a key element of psychological capital in positive psychology, to examine its effect on athlete burnout and its mechanism of action, with a particular focus on the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and hope. A cross-sectional study design was utilized, involving 483 active Chinese athletes from national training teams and professional sports teams. The sample comprised both male (n=251) and female (n=232) athletes, with an average age of 19.24 ± 3.99 years. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire, CAR Questionnaire, Hope Questionnaire, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling in AMOS 24.0 and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses in SPSS 20.0 were employed for data analysis. The study revealed significant associations between athlete gratitude, CAR, hope, and athlete burnout. Notably, gratitude was found to both directly and indirectly (via CAR and hope) influence burnout levels among athletes, suggesting a sequential mediation effect. The findings highlight the importance of positive psychological constructs in buffering against athlete burnout. Specifically, gratitude, alongside a supportive CAR and elevated levels of hope, may play crucial roles in mitigating burnout symptoms. These insights offer promising directions for the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at fostering athlete well-being and performance, advocating for the integration of positive psychology principles in the management and prevention of athlete burnout.

The Influence of Swimming Athletes’ Burnout on Their Sports Participation Motivation in Hunan, China

Objective: This study aims to explore the effect of swimming athletes’ burnout on their sports motivation in Hunan University, China. It seeks to understand how burnout influences various motivational factors, providing insights for optimizing swimming sports courses and enhancing student participation. Method: Employing random sampling, the study surveyed 260 swimming athletes from Hunan University. The research utilized a questionnaire divided into three parts: demographic information, the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Pearson’s r correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS to examine the relationships between burnout dimensions and motivational factors. Results: The study found significant correlations between a reduced sense of accomplishment and various motivational dimensions, including “interest/enjoyment,” “perceived competence,” “perceived choice,” and particularly “perceived tension.” Physical exhaustion showed a significant correlation only with “perceived tension,” indicating a strong link between psychological stress and physical fatigue. Sports devaluation was significantly correlated with “perceived tension,” suggesting that psychological stress impacts athletes’ valuation of their sport. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex interplay between burnout and motivation in swimming athletes. Psychological stress, as indicated by “perceived tension,” emerges as a key factor influencing both the physical and emotional aspects of burnout. The study underscores the need for holistic training approaches that balance physical training with psychological well-being, personalized coaching, and supportive environments to enhance intrinsic motivation and manage stress effectively.

Coaches' benevolent leadership and athlete burnout: Mediating effect of psychological safety

Research has been conducted to explore the effect of factors relating to coaches' leadership on Chinese athletes' burnout, but less attention has been paid to coaches' leadership style, such as benevolent leadership. In this study conducted with 282 athletes at three Chinese universities, we investigated how the benevolent leadership of the coach is related to athlete burnout and if athletes' psychological safety mediates this relationship. We analyzed survey data using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that coaches' benevolent leadership was negatively associated with athlete burnout, and this relationship was mediated by psychological safety. These findings enhance understanding of the mechanism between coaches' benevolent leadership and athlete burnout, and shed light on the important role in this relationship of athletes' perception of psychological safety.

Coach-athlete relationship and burnout symptoms among young elite athletes and the role of mental toughness as a moderator

Abstract: Introduction: Social and contextual factors play an important role for elite athletes’ mental health. In the present study, we examined how young elite athletes’ coach-athlete relationship appraisals are associated with and longitudinally predict general and athlete-specific burnout symptoms and whether mental toughness moderates the association between the coach-athlete relationship and burnout symptoms. Methods: In this prospective study, data were collected twice within a 6 to 10-month interval. The sample consisted of 295 athletes attending Swiss Olympic Partner Schools (186 boys, 109 girls), with a mean age of 16.73±1.38 years. The following instruments were applied: Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM), and Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ). Cross-lagged panel analyses were performed to examine reciprocal relationships across time. Interaction effects were tested via hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Cross-sectionally, athletes who perceived their coach-athlete relationship as negative reported more general and athlete-specific burnout symptoms. Burnout symptoms were relatively stable across time, which made it difficult to explain further variance via coach-athlete relationship appraisals in the prospective analyses. While higher mental toughness scores were associated with fewer burnout symptoms in the cross-sectional analyses, higher mental toughness did not moderate the association between the coach-athlete relationship and burnout symptoms. Conclusion: The coach-athlete relationship plays an important role in athletes’ mental health. Therefore, coaches need the ability to develop effective relationships with their athletes, including thoughtful and respectful communication about issues specific to sport and life generally.

Anxiety and sportsmanship in adolescent athletes: the multiple mediating effects of athlete burnout and exercise cognition

ABSTRACT Sportsmanship is a core characteristic of competitive sports. To determine the factors related to sportsmanship and explore effective strategies to maintain sportsmanship in adolescent athletes, the present study examined the relationship between anxiety and sportsmanship in adolescent athletes and evaluated the potential mediating roles of athlete burnout and exercise cognition. In this study, 1,544 adolescent athletes (852 boys and 692 girls) with an average age of 14.43 years (SD = 1.92) were enrolled. The analyses showed that there was a significant correlation between state anxiety, trait anxiety, athlete burnout, exercise cognition, and sportsmanship. Additionally, state and trait anxiety were associated with lower levels of sportsmanship, and athlete burnout and exercise cognition played multiple mediating roles in the relationship between anxiety and sportsmanship. These findings suggest that anxiety is a plausible explanation for sportsmanship. Adolescent athletes with high levels of trait or state anxiety are more likely to experience athlete burnout, have poorer levels of exercise cognition, and display less sportsmanship.

Five unsolved issues concerning burnout in athletes: An expert perspective

Abstract: Introduction: Concern about mental health is an increasingly relevant topic in high-performance sport. In this regard, because burnout can be harmful to both the health and performance of athletes, it is of particular importance. Although a great deal of time and effort has been dedicated to the study of athlete burnout, there are still issues that require further work. Therefore, in the present paper, we aim to highlight what, in our perspective, are the most important unsolved issues regarding burnout in athletes. Methods: We brought together expert athlete burnout scholars to offer their perspectives on five unresolved issues in this research area. Results: We describe the following five issues that require further research attention: (i) burnout as a syndrome, (ii) the negative consequences of burnout, (iii) the role of recovery in burnout, (iv) the importance of the social environment, and (v) developing effective interventions to reduce/prevent burnout. Conclusion: Our commentary provides suggestions for future research to help solve these problems, advance our understanding of athlete burnout, and ultimately safeguard the mental health of athletes.