Athlete Burnout Research Articles

Effects of Commitment on Fear of Failure and Burnout in Teen Spanish Handball Players.

Under an observational, transversal, and descriptive design, the study analyze the degree of adjustment of the perceptions of fear of failure as a mediating variable of the estimated relationship between sporting commitment and the appearance of burnout in young handball players in a competitive context. The sample included a total of 479 youth category handball players (250 boys and 229 girls) selected to compete in the Spanish Regional Championships. The age range was 16 (40.1%)−17 (59.9%) years old (M = 16.60; SD = 0.50). With regard to the years of experience variable, 85.4% stated that they have more than 5 years of experience at the federated handball player level. The Spanish version of Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI), Inventory Athletes Burnout Revised (IBD-R), and Sport Commitment Questionnaire (SCQE) were used to assess fear of failure. The correlation patterns evidence that commitment is negative and significantly associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and fear of failure and positively associated with reduced sense of personal accomplishment. In the standardized direct effect, negative and significant effects were observed between commitment and fear of failure, fear of failure with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and on the contrary, a negative and significant effect was observed between fear of failure and reduced sense of personal accomplishment. The evaluated athletes reflect a positive psychological disposition, show pride in having been selected by their territorial teams and reflect a high desire to show their sporting qualities. Despite the emergence of cognitive-emotional processes associated with fear of failure (e.g., shame, fear of criticism), this has been observed to protect the sense of self-fulfillment through sport effort, although it also has impacts on further emotional exhaustion and loss of value of sport effort.

Gratitude, Coach–Athlete Relationships, and Burnout in Collegiate Student-Athletes

This study investigated whether gratitude predicted burnout directly and indirectly through coach–athlete relationships. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisions I (n = 305), II (n = 202), and III (n = 89) student-athletes (N = 596, 76.5% women) completed a survey regarding athlete burnout, coach–athlete relationships, trait gratitude, and state gratitude (sport and general). Structural equation modeling revealed that gratitude predicted athletes’ burnout. Sport state gratitude was the most accurate negative predictor of burnout. In addition, indirect associations between sport state gratitude and burnout emerged through coach–athlete relationships, suggesting that sport state gratitude was positively associated with coach–athlete relationships, which in turn, negatively predicted burnout. Coach–athlete relationships were positively predicted by sport state gratitude. These findings suggest that grateful student-athletes may experience less burnout, and athletes who have strong coach–athlete relationships may experience more gratitude.

Assessing Burnout in Subgroups of Athletes Based on Gratitude and Perceived Coach-Athlete Relationship.

The purpose of this study was to examine distinct groups of athletes based on their gratitude and coach-athlete relationships (CAR) and to compare the groups on three dimensions of athlete burnout: sense of reduced accomplishment, emotional and physical exhaustion, and sport devaluation. Types of gratitude measured included general trait gratitude, general state gratitude, and sport state gratitude. Cluster analysis with 576 intercollegiate athletes showed four distinct groups: "ungrateful in life and sport, and disconnected from the coach" (Group 1), "highly grateful in life and sport, and well-connected with the coach" (Group 2), "generally less grateful in life, but connected with the coach" (Group 3), and "generally grateful in life, but disconnected from the coach" (Group 4). Group 1 reported the highest levels of burnout. In contrast, Group 2 reported the lowest levels of burnout. Athletes in Groups 3 and 4 (which were similar on sport state gratitude, but differed on other indicators) reported moderate levels of burnout, but Group 4 athletes were more burned out than Group 3 athletes. Specifically, both groups reported similar levels of devaluation; yet, Group 4 scored higher on reduced sense of accomplishment and emotional/physical exhaustion than Group 3. Examination of group composition revealed that male athletes were overrepresented in Group 2 and underrepresented in Group 4, and Group 1 athletes tended to identify as non-religious. Taken together, findings point to the protective role that gratitude and a positive CAR may play in athlete burnout prevention.

A Field-Based Approach to Determine Soft Tissue Injury Risk in Elite Futsal Using Novel Machine Learning Techniques.

Lower extremity non-contact soft tissue (LE-ST) injuries are prevalent in elite futsal. The purpose of this study was to develop robust screening models based on pre-season measures obtained from questionnaires and field-based tests to prospectively predict LE-ST injuries after having applied a range of supervised Machine Learning techniques. One hundred and thirty-nine elite futsal players underwent a pre-season screening evaluation that included individual characteristics; measures related to sleep quality, athlete burnout, psychological characteristics related to sport performance and self-reported perception of chronic ankle instability. A number of neuromuscular performance measures obtained through three field-based tests [isometric hip strength, dynamic postural control (Y-Balance) and lower extremity joints range of motion (ROM-Sport battery)] were also recorded. Injury incidence was monitored over one competitive season. There were 25 LE-ST injuries. Only those groups of measures from two of the field-based tests (ROM-Sport battery and Y-Balance), as independent data sets, were able to build robust models [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) score ≥0.7] to identify elite futsal players at risk of sustaining a LE-ST injury. Unlike the measures obtained from the five questionnaires selected, the neuromuscular performance measures did build robust prediction models (AUC score ≥0.7). The inclusion in the same data set of the measures recorded from all the questionnaires and field-based tests did not result in models with significantly higher performance scores. The model generated by the UnderBagging technique with a cost-sensitive SMO as the base classifier and using only four ROM measures reported the best prediction performance scores (AUC = 0.767, true positive rate = 65.9% and true negative rate = 62%). The models developed might help coaches, physical trainers and medical practitioners in the decision-making process for injury prevention in futsal.

Burnout, Positivity and Passion in Young Mexican Athletes: The Mediating Effect of Social Support.

The burnout syndrome is a negative experience for athlete development and it has been demonstrated that it gets worse when a sport is practiced in an obsessive way. Interventions with a positive view towards sports could be a protective factor to boost the athlete’s wellbeing. The aim of the present study was to analyse the mediator effect from social support, the relationship between the burnout, positivity and passion in young Mexican athletes. The sample was composed by 452 Mexican athletes, males and females (women 45%), from 12 to 18 years of age (M = 16.29, SD = 1.66). Participants answered the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, The Scale of the Social Support Perceived by Athletes, the Passion Scale and the Positivity Scale. The results of structural equation modeling showed a good adjustment model (χ2 = 889.213; df = 274; χ2/df = 3.245; p ˂ 0.01; CFI = 0.93; TLI = 0.91; IFI = 0.94; NFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.07). The harmonious passion presented direct and indirect effects on the burnout, being the perceived social support the mediator variable of the indirect effect. The positivity resulted positive predictor from the social support (β = 0.714, p ˂ 0.001) and social support predicted the burnout (β = −0.270, p ˂ 0.005). The obsessive passion had a direct effect over burnout (β = 0.627, p ˂ 0.001). Developing negative commitments to sports could be an indicator of a greater risk of experiencing individual conflicts that lead to sports burnout.

Perfectionistic concerns cognitions predict burnout in college athletes: a three-month longitudinal study

ABSTRACT The majority of research examining the relationship between perfectionism and athlete burnout has focused on trait perfectionism, while overlooking the importance of the cognitive elements of perfectionism. Perfectionistic cognitions represent an influential cognitive bias driving perfectionistic behaviour. Although perfectionistic cognitions have been shown to correlate with burnout symptoms in athletes, this body of work is very limited and does not include college athletes. In addition, it is currently unclear whether perfectionistic cognitions also predict changes in athlete burnout over time. To address these issues, we conducted a two-wave, three-month longitudinal study and measured perfectionistic cognitions and burnout in a sample of 170 college athletes both at the start and end of a competitive season. In doing so, we also sought to empirically test the different models of perfectionistic cognitions that have been proposed (original, short, and multidimensional). Using cross-lagged panel models, we found that perfectionistic concerns cognitions predicted increases in burnout. The findings provide initial evidence that perfectionistic cognitions predict changes in athlete burnout over time in college athletes. Consequently, the findings have important implications for our understanding of both athlete burnout and perfectionistic cognitions.

Comparing Burnout in Sport Specializing vs. Sport Sampling Adolescent Athletes

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.

FEATURES OF THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE COACH-ATHLETE DYAD AS A REGULATOR OF BURNOUT IN ATHLETES OF DIFFERENT SEXES

FEATURES OF THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE COACH-ATHLETE DYAD AS A REGULATOR OF BURNOUT IN ATHLETES OF DIFFERENT SEXES

Prevalence of burnout syndrome and perception by playing position in professional football players

Abstract Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the indicators of burnout, to determine whether playing position affects the perception of syndrome dimensions, and to identify burnout prevalence in professional football players. Methods: The participants were 100 professional football players (mean age 24.3 ± 4.6 years and meantime as a professional athlete of 9.2 ± 4.5 years) who were divided into three groups: 27 forwards, 34 midfielders, and 39 defenders. The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were applied. Results: The results show that a) the majority of athletes had low burnout indicators, b) there was no difference in the perception of burnout dimensions by playing position, and c) the prevalence of athletes with burnout, whether mild, moderate, or severe, was 13%. Conclusion: The variable of playing position was not a determinant of perception of burnout dimensions among the forwards, midfielders, and defenders. Nonetheless, the prevalence of burnout deserves attention, as the negative effects of this syndrome may exert impacts on health, well-being, and sports performance, making athletes more likely to abandon their sport.

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) in a sample of young and adult athletes

Abstract Aims: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Methods: Participants were five hundred and nineteen young and adult athletes who responded to the ABQ and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R. Data analysis was conducted through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach’s alpha, Composite reliability, average variance extracted, multigroup analysis, and Pearson’s correlation (p .70). External validity revealed a positive correlation between PEE (r=.14) and RSSA (r=.23) with somatic anxiety and a positive correlation of PEE (r=.15), RSSA (r=.30), and SD (r=.14) with cognitive anxiety. Further, all dimensions of burnout had negative correlations with the self-confidence (r=.17-.23). In the factor invariance analysis, satisfactory data were found in the model’s fit, establishing good factor loadings, variance/covariance, and residuals in both age groups (up to 18 years and over 18 years) and genders (men and women). Conclusion: It was concluded that the Brazilian version of the ABQ is satisfactory for the application of possible studies involving burnout syndrome in the Brazilian sports context in different group extracts.

Associations among perfectionism, anxiety, and psychological well-being/ill-being in college athletes of South Korea

The study was to investigate the relationships between perfectionism (i.e., self-oriented and socially-prescribed perfectionism) and psychological well-being (i.e., vitality)/ill-being (i.e., emotional/physical exhaustion) and to examine the mediating effects of competitive state anxiety on the relationships. Three hundred two collegiate athletes participated in the study (Mage = 21.12yrs, SD = 1.28). The participants completed four questionnaires: Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, Subjective Vitality Scale, and Emotional/Physical Exhaustion from Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. The hypothesized model presented an acceptable fit to the data. Specifically, χ2 (80) = 179.99 (p &lt; 0.001), CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.965, SRMR = 0.042, and RMSEA = 0.052 with 90% CI [0.042, 0.062]. The results indicated that self-oriented perfectionism was negatively related to competitive state anxiety (β = -.14, p &lt; .005) and positively related to vitality (β =.26, p &lt; .001), whereas socially-prescribed perfectionism was positively related to competitive state anxiety (β =.28, p &lt; .001) and emotional/physical exhaustion (β =.15, p &lt; .05). Competitive state anxiety was negatively related to vitality (β = -.14, p &lt; .05) and positively related to emotional/physical exhaustion (β =.31, p &lt; .001). Competitive state anxiety partially mediated the relationships between socially-prescribed perfectionism and emotional/physical exhaustion. The full mediating effects of anxiety on the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism and emotional/physical exhaustion and between socially-prescribed perfectionism and vitality were observed. Findings supported that self-oriented perfectionism was functionally adaptive to and socially-prescribed perfectionism was maladaptive to athletes’ psychological well-/ill-being.

The Relationship between Coaching Behavior and Athlete Burnout: Mediating Effects of Communication and the Coach-Athlete Relationship.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between perceived coaching behavior (autonomy-supportive and controlling), communication, coach–athlete relationship, and athlete burnout. The study participants comprised 347 Korean active collegiate athletes from 10 sports. The results of the final model indicated that autonomy-supportive coaching was positively related to communication, whereas controlling coaching was negatively related to communication. Communication was positively related to coach–athlete relationship and was negatively related to athlete burnout. Autonomy-supportive coaching was significantly related to both the coach–athlete relationship (positively) and athlete burnout (negatively), whereas controlling coaching was only related to athlete burnout (positively). Coach–athlete relationship was negatively related to athlete burnout. Significant indirect effects were observed. The bootstrapping results indicated that the relationship between autonomy-supportive and athlete burnout was mediated by team communication and the coach–athlete relationship. The study findings enhance our current understanding of the relationships between perceived coaching behavior and athlete burnout and shed light on the important roles of team communication and the coach–athlete relationship in the relationship.

Mental Health Measurement in a Post Covid-19 World: Psychometric Properties and Invariance of the DASS-21 in Athletes and Non-athletes.

Psychological science faces a call to action researching the implications of the corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Rapid reviews have reported that maintaining rigorous research standards is a priority for the field, such as ensuring reliable and valid measurement, when investigating people’s experience of Covid-19 (O’Connor et al., 2020). However, no research to date has validated a measure mental health symptomology for an athlete population. The current research addresses this gap by examining the internal consistency, factor structure, invariance, and convergent validity of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) in two athlete samples. Participants completed the DASS-21 and sport-specific measures of mental health such as the Profile of Mood States – Depression subscale (POMS-D), Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ). In sample one (n = 894), results of exploratory structural equation modeling indicated that a three-factor model provided good fit to the data, but a bifactor model provided better fit. Factor loadings indicated minimal misspecification and higher loadings on the general-factor. Invariance testing suggested equivalence across gender, athletic expertise, sport type, and injury status. Further, latent mean differences analyses indicated that females and injured athletes scored higher than male and non-injured athletes on all DASS-21 factors reporting higher mental health symptomology, those with more expertise scored higher on the general-factor and depression and those with less expertise scored higher on anxiety and stress, and no differences between team and individual athletes. In sample two (n = 589), the bifactor structure was replicated. Results largely supported the scales convergent validity with depression predicting POMS-D scores, whereas all three subscales predicted the SAS-2, ABQ, and APSQ scores. Internal consistency was acceptable in both samples. The current work provides initial support for use of the DASS-21 as an operationalisation of mental health symptomology in athletes. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Selected Cardiovascular and Psychological Changes Throughout a Competitive Season in Collegiate Female Swimmers.

Dobson, J, Harris, B, Claytor, A, Stroud, L, Berg, L, and Chrysosferidis, P. Selected cardiovascular and psychological changes throughout a competitive season in collegiate female swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3062-3069, 2020-Measures that reflect the balance between training-induced fatigue and recovery can provide valuable feedback to help revise training plans. The aim of this study was to use multidimensional measures of the vagal control of the heart rate (HR), psychological stress, and burnout to investigate the impact of overload training and tapering in female swimmers. Thirteen female Division-1 swimmers completed the HR and psychological measures 3 times during a competitive season: (a) at the beginning of the season (BL), (b) eleven weeks later during a period of overload training (OL), and (c) eleven more weeks later and after a taper (TP). Cardiovascular measures included the resting logarithm of the root mean square of successive R-R intervals (lnRMSSD), HR responses to forced breathing (HRdiff), and HR responses to sustained handgrip exercise (HRhg). Psychological measures consisted of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire. Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed that sport devaluation, reduced accomplishment, general stress, and emotional exhaustion all increased throughout the season (all were p < 0.05). Also, lnRMSSDrest decreased (p < 0.01) and HRhg increased (p < 0.05) during OL, both of which then returned to BL levels during TP (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively); whereas HRdiff values fell progressively during the season (p < 0.05). The results indicate that OL impaired cardiac vagal stimulation, and the bulk of evidence indicated that it was fully restored during a TP. In conclusion, lnRMSSD and HRhg were particularly sensitive to changes in workload throughout the season, and so those measures may be especially useful for preventing an excessive accumulation of training-induced fatigue.

Spora Bağlılık Ölçeği’ni Türkçe’ye Uyarlama Çalışması

Araştırmanın amacı, Guillen ve Martinez-Alvarado (2014) tarafından geliştirilmiş olan “Spora Bağlılık Ölçeği”nin Türkçe’ye uyarlanarak geçerliğinin ve güvenirliğinin incelenmesidir. Orijinal Spora Bağlılık Ölçeği 12 madde ve 3 alt boyuttan oluşmaktadır. Ölçek 7’li Likert tipinde bir ölçektir ve uç dereceler “1=Hiçbir Zaman”,…, “7=Her Zaman” şeklinde puanlanmaktadır. Ölçekte ters anlam içeren bir madde bulunmamaktadır. Söz konusu 3 alt boyut; “Dinç Olma”, “Adanmışlık” ve “Odaklanma” şeklindedir. Araştırmanın uygulama kısmında İlk işlem olarak orijinal ölçek Türkçe’ye çevrilmiş ve 6 uzmanın önerileri dikkate alınarak Türkçe form düzenlenmiştir. Ölçeğin dil eşdeğerliği korelasyon analizinden yararlanarak incelenmiştir. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliği açımlayıcı faktör analizi ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi bağlamında ele alınmıştır. Ölçeğin güvenirliği Cronbach α katsayıları hesaplanarak ve test-tekrar-test yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Ölçüt geçerliğinin belirlenmesinde ise ölçeğin sporcu tükenmişliği ölçeği ile arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Tüm analizlerin yapılmasında toplam 1218 sporcudan elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Söz konusu çalışma grubuna, kolayda örnekleme yoluyla ulaşılmış ve ölçek sporculara çevrimiçi olarak uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, Türkçe ölçeğin dil eşdeğerliğine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiş; ölçeğin toplam varyansın %67,59’unu açıkladığı ve 10 madde ile 2 alt boyuttan oluştuğu belirlenmiştir. Bu alt boyutlar “Odaklanma” ve “Dinç olma” boyutları olmuştur. Doğrulayıcı faktör analizi sonucunda elde edilen uyum indeksi değerlerine göre verilerle iyi derecede uyum gözlenmiştir. Ölçeğin tamamının Cronbach α katsayısı 0,918 olarak, alt boyutların Cronbach α katsayıları ise 0,916 ve 0,778 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Buna göre, ölçeğin yüksek iç tutarlılığa sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Son olarak, ölçeğin ve alt boyutlarının sporcu tükenmişliği ölçeği ve alt boyutları ile beklenildiği gibi negatif ve orta düzeyde ilişkili olduğu tespit edilmiş ve ölçeğin ölçüt geçerliğine sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Spora Bağlılık Ölçeği’nin Türkçe uyarlamasının geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçek olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Effects of Including Sprints in One Weekly Low-Intensity Training Session During the Transition Period of Elite Cyclists.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of including 30-s sprints in one weekly low-intensity training (LIT) session during a 3-week transition period in elite cyclists. Sixteen male elite cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake, VO2max: 72 ± 5 ml·kg−1·min−1) reduced their training load by ~60% for 3 weeks from the end of competitive season and performed only LIT or included 30-s sprints (SPR) in one weekly LIT-session. Performance and physiological capacities were evaluated during a prolonged (~2.5 h) test-session, including a strength test, a submaximal blood lactate profile test, an incremental test to exhaustion to determine VO2max, 1 h continuous cycling including four maximal 30-s sprints, and a 20-min all-out test. In addition, mental recovery was evaluated using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ARQ). The only significant between-group change during the transition period was an 8 ± 11% larger improvement in 30-s sprint performance in SPR compared to control (CON; SPR: 4 ± 5%, CON: −4 ± 5%, p = 0.01). Although not different from CON, SPR maintained 20-min all-out performance (−1 ± 5%, p = 0.37) and fractional utilization of VO2max (1.9 ± 6.1%-points, p = 0.18) during the 20-min all-out test, whereas corresponding declines were observed in CON (−3 ± 5%, p = 0.04, and −2.5 ± 2.9%-points, p = 0.02, respectively). Power output at 4 mmol·L−1 blood lactate concentration decreased similarly in SPR (−4 ± 4%, p = 0.02) and CON (−5 ± 5%, p = 0.01), while VO2max, maximal aerobic power (Wmax), and total burnout score were unaffected in both groups. Including sprints in one weekly LIT-session in the transition period improves sprint performance and maintains 20-min all-out power and fractional utilization of VO2max without compromising mental recovery. Inclusion of sprints in LIT-sessions may therefore be a plausible, time-efficient strategy during short periods of reduced training.

Influence of Basic Psychological Needs over Burnout in the Sport Context

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among basic psychological needs and burnout in a sample of athletes (N = 639). It was hypothesized that psychological needs satisfaction was negatively associated with burnout syndrome and the frustration of these needs related positively. Burnout was measured with the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), satisfaction of basic psychological needs with the Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS), and frustration with the Psychological Needs Thwarting Scale (PNTS). Data analysis was conducted under the approach of structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that satisfaction of basic psychological needs had a negative direct effect on burnout of −0.67 (p &lt; 0.001) while the frustration of these needs had a direct effect of 0.18 (p &lt; 0.001). In addition, the total model explained 59% of the total variance of burnout. All individual parameters of the model were statistically significant and the overall fit of the model was satisfactory. It can be concluded that satisfying the basic psychological needs of the athletes can protect them against burnout.

Effect of digital storytelling intervention on burnout thoughts of adolescent: Athletes with disabilities.

Background/Objective:Both athletes with and without disabilities can develop burnout symptoms. However, athletes with disabilities may face different or more challenges compared to their counterparts without disabilities. The present study aimed at ascertaining the effect of digital storytelling intervention on burnout thoughts of adolescent-athletes with disabilities.Method:This study is a randomized controlled trial involving a total of 171 adolescent-athletes with disabilities who showed a high degree of burnout symptoms. These adolescent-athletes were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 85) or a waitlisted control group (n = 86). The treatment intervention for the adolescent-athletes was digital stories which were created based on the framework of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire was used for gathering of data at three different times (baseline, post-test and follow up). Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance at a significant level of 0.05.Results:Results showed that the digital storytelling intervention based on REBT significantly reduced burnout thoughts among disabled adolescent-athletes in the intervention group compared to athletes in the waitlisted control group as measured by the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Additionally, at follow-up evaluation, it was observed that the decrease in burnout scores was maintained by those athletes in the digital storytelling intervention.Conclusion:Digital storytelling intervention based on rational emotive behaviour therapy shows great potentials in addressing burnout among adolescent-athletes with disabilities.

Prevalence of burnout in soccer athletes of the sub-20 category along a sports season

The aimed of the study were: (a) to construct a reference table for burnout in soccer athletes of the U-20 category and (b) to verify the individual oscillations in the perception of these athletes in relation to burnout over three periods of the sports season. The 53 sub-20 soccer athletes participated. The Atlhete Burnout Questionnaire, brazilian version, was applied to athletes during training, competition and vacation periods of the sports season. A reference table was built for under-20 soccer athletes for each assessed period. Fluctuations were found in the average values of the total burnout frequency of the athletes during the 3 periods: training (=1.35 ± 0.13 and =2.11 ± 0.19), competition (=1.26 ± 0.13 and =2.27 ± 0.24) and vacation (=1.27 ± 0.14 and = 2.18 ± 0.28) Based on this table and the individual classification of each athlete, it was observed that 32 athletes presented fluctuations in the perception of burnout during the sports season and 21 athletes did not show fluctuations in feelings of burnout during the three evaluation periods. The period with the highest number of athletes (n = 17) with a high level of burnout was the training period. It is concluded that it is not possible to establish a single and collective behavior regarding the fluctuations of burnout levels in athletes of the U-20 category during a sports season, and that the category reference table contributes to a greater accuracy of the burnout evaluation in every season.

Sintomatología del síndrome de burnout en deportistas: un estudio con metodología Delphi

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue aumentar el conocimiento sobre los síntomas conductuales, cognitivos y fisiológicos del síndrome de burnout en deportistas, a través de la percepción de un grupo de psicólogos del deporte con experiencia en el síndrome y otro grupo sin dicha experiencia. Para ello, se ha utilizado una metodología Delphi en una muestra de 28 expertos en Psicología del Deporte, siendo el 60,7% hombres y el 39,3% mujeres. El instrumento de evaluación consistió en tres cuestionarios semiestructurados Delphi diseñados específicamente por los investigadores y adaptado de una investigación previa. Se analizan los resultados a través del programa SPSS 22.0. Ambos grupos destacan como síntomas conductuales: falta de adherencia al entrenamiento y bajo rendimiento deportivo; como síntomas cognitivos: desvalorización de la práctica deportiva e ideas de abandono del deporte; y como síntomas fisiológicos: tensión, y agotamiento físico. Se plantean propuestas de futuro como analizar otras variables relacionadas con el síndrome. The main aim of the current research was to increase the knowledge of the behavioural, cognitive and physiological symptoms of burnout in athletes, throughout the perception of sports psychologists with experience in the syndrome and other group without burnout experience. For this, a Delphi methodology in a sample of 28 experts in Sport Psychology was carried out, being the gender distribution of 60.7% male and 39.3% female. The assessment tool consisted of three Delphi semi-structured questionnaires designed specifically by researchers and adapted from a prior investigation. Results were analysed through the SPSS 22.0 program. Both groups highlight as behavioural symptoms: lack of training adherence and low sport performance; as cognitive symptoms: sport devaluation and ideas of drop out of sport; and as physiological symptoms: tension and physical exhaustion. This raises future proposals to analyse other variables related to burnout syndrome. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi aumentar o conhecimento sobre os sintomas comportamentais, cognitivos e fisiológicos da síndrome de burnout em atletas, por meio da percepção de um grupo de psicólogos do esporte com experiência na síndrome e outro grupo sem essa experiência. Para isso, uma metodologia Delphi foi utilizada em uma amostra de 28 especialistas em Psicologia do Esporte, sendo 60,7% homens e 39,3% mulheres. O instrumento de avaliação consistiu de três questionários Delphi semiestruturados, elaborados especificamente pelos pesquisadores e adaptados de pesquisas anteriores. Os resultados são analisados através do programa SPSS 22.0. Ambos os grupos se destacam como sintomas comportamentais: falta de adesão ao treinamento e baixo desempenho atlético; como sintomas cognitivos: desvalorização da prática esportiva e idéias de abandono do esporte; e como sintomas fisiológicos: tensão e exaustão física. Se plantean propuestas de futuro como analizar otras variables relacionadas con el síndrome.