Athlete Burnout Research Articles

Burnout in adolescent elite athletes

Abstract: Objectives: Adolescent elite athletes are generally exposed to considerable stress. This study investigated the extent and intensity of burnout in adolescent athletes attending an elite Austrian sports school. Methods: The German version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and additional questions on burnout-related risk factors were applied to a sample of 63 students. Results: The data show a substantial burden of burnout in the student sample, compared to a sample of adult endurance athletes. Burnout was negatively associated with training duration and with a perspective onto a professional sports career, and positively associated with thoughts about finalizing sports, with the number of injuries, and with high levels of success-related psychic pressure. Conclusions: Burnout in adolescent elite athletes at an Austrian sports school was evident in number and severity. Psychological factors like doubts on the career, perceiving a professional perspective in sports, self-efficacy, or sense-making may interact with contextual factors in a circular way.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Male Semiprofessional Cricket Player's Mental Health and Performance Following the Resumption of Sporting Events.

The ability of a cricket player to manage their mental health helps them to perform optimally. This study investigated how mental health is related to performance of male cricket players during the resumption of sporting events after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. Mental health profiles were established using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) instruments among male semiprofessional cricket players (n = 63). Performance metrics included: body fat percentage (BF%), range of motion (ROM), push-abdominal test, crazy catch test, t-test, 40-m sprint, and Cooper's test. Inferential statistics included Spearman's correlations with a significance level set at α < .05. Spearman's correlation reported a statistically significant relationship for SWLS and body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.263; p = .037) as well as between stress and abdominal test (r = 0.355; p = .004); crazy catch test (r = 0.249; p = .049); Cooper's test (r = 0.335; p = .009), VO2max (r = 0.308; p = .014), stress and abdominal test (r = -0.313; p = .012); as well as anxiety and 40-m sprint (r = 0.488; p = .027). This study provides an important snapshot of how symptoms of mental health are associated with performance. Further research should investigate the relationship between mental health and performance parameters among male players at varied skill levels.

Applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training to Chinese national archery team athletes: a single-case mixed-methods study

ABSTRACT Objective The study examined the effectiveness of applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training programmes for decreasing mood disturbance and burnout, improving confidence, and enhancing the spiritual realm of Chinese elite archery athletes. Methods An ABA design was adopted. Sixteen elite archery athletes took part in an intervention, which consisted of (a) technique-oriented basic psychological skills training, (b) knowledge-oriented sport psychology knowledge education, and (c) vision-oriented cultural literacy formation. Profile of Mood States, Athletes Burnout Questionnaire, and State Sport-Confidence Inventory were employed to carry on monthly monitoring. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The method of Nonoverlap of All Pairs (NAP), analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and a reflexive thematic analysis were used to calculate the effect sizes for the intervention. Results For the majority of the participants, the findings of the current study demonstrated a medium to large effect of applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training on decreasing mood disturbance and burnout and improving confidence. Moreover, there seemed to be a stronger effect in the intervention than in the withdrawal phase. Qualitative data obtained revealed that psychological training not only helped athletes in the arena but also enhanced their spiritual realm. Conclusion It can be viewed that applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training is very effective in improving elite Chinese archery athletes’ state of mind. In the future, it is suggested that more studies could be done to further contextualise, examine, and expound on the effectiveness of the spiritual realm in other sport-systems.

Elite youth athletes’ mental health and its relationship with the talent development environment: A variable- and person-centred approach

ABSTRACT The present research sought to examine the prevalence of elite youth athletes’ mental health and its relationship with talent development environments (TDEs). A sample of 248 Chinese elite youth athletes completed a self-report survey measuring demographic variables, TDE factors, and mental health outcomes including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, and athlete burnout. The results revealed moderate levels of burnout, with 19% of the participants meeting the diagnostic cut-off of GAD, and similar numbers for depression. The multiple regression analysis revealed alignment of expectations was the only TDE factor to significantly predict GAD and depression. Holistic quality preparation was the only significant TDE predictor of burnout. The results of cluster analysis suggested a three-cluster solution: cluster 1—“slightly below average TDE”, cluster 2—“high TDE”, and cluster 3—“very low TDE”. Among the three clusters, cluster 2 had the lowest levels of GAD, depression, and burnout. Cluster 3 reported a higher burnout level than cluster 1, and the two clusters showed no differences in other two mental health outcomes. These findings suggest a need to manage mental health symptoms of elite youth athletes, and the roles of TDE could be considered in the management of mental health.

Athlete Burnout Is Associated With Perceived Likelihood of Future Injury Among Healthy Adolescent Athletes.

We examined perceived risk of future sports injury and athlete burnout among uninjured adolescent athletes. Uninjured high school athlete participants completed the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward likelihood of sustaining a future sport-related injury. We compared ABQ responses between injury risk perception groups: those who expected injury versus those who did not. Half of the participants reported a somewhat/very high likelihood of future sport-related injury (n = 98; 52% female; age = 15.3 ± 1.9 years), while the other half reported it was unlikely/not possible (n = 98; 45% female; age = 15.3 ± 1.3 years). A significantly greater proportion of those in the expected injury group reported a history of bone/muscle/ligament/tendon injury (56% vs 24%; P < .001). Those in the expected injury group reported higher athlete burnout scores (median = 28 [interquartile range = 25-34] vs 25 [23-30]; P = .002). Adolescent athletes who reported they were likely to experience a future injury in their sport also reported greater levels of burnout.

Associations between health problems and athlete burnout: a cohort study in 210 adolescent elite athletes

ObjectivesWe studied associations between the burden of health problems and athlete burnout in a population of athletes from Norwegian Sport Academy High Schools.MethodsThis is a mixed prospective/retrospective cohort study. We...

Burnout Syndrome in Selectable Athletes for the Brazilian Handball Team-Children Category.

To investigate the presence of burnout syndrome in child athlete tryouts for the Brazilian Handball Team, before and after the National Development and Technical Improvement Camp is of great interest. A correlational study, with longitudinal design of the before-and-after type, carried out with 64 male athletes in the children's category, immersed in the National Camp for Development and Improvement of Handball Technique, in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2018. To evaluate burnout syndrome, we used the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). There was a statistically significant increase of the mean scores for burnout and dimensions (Physical and Emotional Exhaustion = 1.5 to 1.6; p-value < 0.001; Reduced Sense of Accomplishment = 2.7 to 2.9; p-value < 0.001; Sports Devaluation = 1.4 to 1.6; p-value < 0.001; and General Burnout = 1.9 to 2.0; p-value < 0.001). The athletes selected for the national team had lower mean scores for general burnout and dimensions (Physical and Emotional Exhaustion = 1.5; Reduced Sense of Accomplishment = 2.7; Sports Devaluation = 1.5; General Burnout = 1.9). The National Camp for Development and Technical Improvement can have a negative impact on the mental health of athletes. This event is important to select the competitors with greater ability to face the pressure and adversities present in the sport environment.

The Relationship of Burnout with Perceived Expressed Emotion, Anxiety, and Depression Levels in Professional Adolescent Volleyball Players

Objective: Athlete burnout is an increasing problem among adolescents. Based on previous studies, it has been thought that anxiety, depression and perceived expressed emotion may be important factors in terms of athlete burnout, and these four factors may interact with each other. We aimed to examine the relationship between athlete burnout, perceived expressed emotion, anxiety and depression, and to reveal the factors that predict athlete burnout. Material and Methods: The study consists of 62 professional volleyball players between the ages of 12-17. The participants completed the sociodemographic form, Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, Shortened Level of Expressed Emotion Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Perceived irritability and anxiety and depression levels were correlated in our study. Lack of emotional support had positive association with depression levels, and perceived intrusiveness had positive association with anxiety. A correlation was obtained between reduced sense of accomplishment and emotional/physical exhaustion, which are subscales of Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, and both anxiety and depression levels. In addition, reduced sense of accomplishment had positive association with perceived intrusiveness. The linear regression model demonstrated that anxiety significantly contributed to reduced sense of accomplishment. Conclusions: As a result of our study, it was concluded that determining anxiety-depression levels, and evaluating the parent-child relationship in adolescent athletes may be important in terms of both prevention and treatment programs for athlete burnout.

How relationship-maintenance strategies influence athlete burnout: Mediating roles of coach-athlete relationship and basic psychological needs satisfaction.

Athlete burnout has many potential negative effects on athletes' sporting performance and careers. Maintaining and promoting the coach-athlete relationship to meet athletes' basic psychological needs is one way to reduce burnout. Existing studies of the correlation between coach-athlete relationships and athlete burnout have mainly focused on the coaches' leadership style, with little attention given to relationship-maintenance strategies and the mechanism of athlete burnout from the athletes' perspective. Using an online survey of 256 adolescent athletes, we explore the relationship between relationship-maintenance strategies and athlete burnout, including the potential mediating effects of the coach-athlete relationship and basic psychological needs satisfaction. (1) Athletes' relationship-maintenance strategies negatively predicted athlete burnout. (2) Besides the direct effect, we found evidence to support three mediation paths: (a) the coach-athlete relationship, (b) basic psychological needs satisfaction, and (c) both as serial mediators. These findings enhance understanding of the mechanism of athlete burnout, demonstrating the influence of factors beyond the coach's role. The study also provides a theoretical basis for practical intervention by coaches, athletes, and sports organizations to reduce athlete burnout by focusing on athletes' perspectives.

Theoretical analysis of psychological and pedagogical determinants of emotional burnout in athletes

Theoretical analysis of psychological and pedagogical determinants of emotional burnout in athletes

Can Yoga Pranayama Practices Improve Burnout in Elite Mountain Bikers: A Single-arm Pilot Study.

Mountain bike (MTB) racing is a highly intensive physical activity and requires a high degree of technical ability to perform at the elite athlete level, which might compromise mental well-being, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression through overtraining, injury, and burnout. Yoga Pranayama is the key to bringing about psychosomatic integration and harmony. This study aimed to explore the effects of yoga pranayama practices (YPP) on elite mountain bikers' burnout. This is a single-arm pilot study. Twenty-seven subjects practiced 30 sessions of YPP seven times a week for 1 month. The outcomes measured were blood biochemical parameters accompanied by complete blood count and athlete burnout score. Cubital vein blood test and burnout questionnaire were conducted at baseline and after 1 month. Test results showed a significant decrease in cortisol (CO) (P = 0.001) and urea nitrogen (P < 0.001) and an increase in testosterone: CO ratio (P = 0.001). This study indicates that YPP might improve burnout in elite mountain bikers.

RELATION BETWEEN BURNOUT AND AGGRESSION IN AMATEUR ATHLETES’ PERFORMANCES AMONG MALE AND FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. Research shows that burnout affects not only physical and mental health, but behavior as well. Aim of the present study is to assess burnout and its relationship with aggression in amateur athletes’ performances in university games. Methods: In this empirical study 169 amateur athletes were selected from Sindh University, Jamshoro using the Convenient Sampling Technique. Two structured questionnaires Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ) and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) were used to collect data along with demographic sheet. The results of simple linear regression indicated that aggression predicts burnout (R2 = .043, F = 7.49, p = .007.). However, no significant gender differences were observed in aggression and burnout. Conclusion: Burnout is strongly correlated with mental health including irregular and un-monitored onset of aggressive behavior of amateur athletes. The negative effects of burnout at the individual, collective and organizational level prompt researchers to look for the specific factors associated with the syndrome that seem to influence its occurrence. Keywords: Burnout, Aggression, Amateur Athletes, Chronic Stress, Emotional Strain.

Analysis of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Psychophysiological Variables in Basketball Athletes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive muscle relaxation program on psychological (stress levels, anxiety, and mood states) and physiological (blood pressure and heart rate) variables in basketball athletes. Fifty-nine basketball players, aged 14 to 19 years, and members of Bauru Basket team, were recruited for this study and grouped into control group (CG, n = 30) and intervention group (IG, n = 29). The participants were evaluated, before and after the intervention, by the following means: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), to measure the pre-competitive anxiety state, i.e., how anxious each athlete felt just before the competition; Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), an instrument for early detection of overtraining syndrome; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), to identify the extent to which each athlete was physically or mentally stressed and the athlete's current capability for recovery; Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), specifically developed for athletes. The IG athletes participated in 12 progressive muscle relaxation sessions, a practice for tensing or tightening a specific muscle until an ideal state of relaxation is reached. Each participant had blood pressure and heart rate measured before and after every session. The CG athletes were evaluated similarly to those in the IG but without relaxation. The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive anxiety (p = 0.039) and specific stress (p = 0.016) between CG and IG before the intervention; in addition, a significant heart rate decrease (p &lt; 0.01) between IG and CG was noted.

The impact of stress, recovery and coping on burnout symptoms of young elite table-tennis players: A prospective multilevel study.

The aim of the present study was to explore the role of stress, recovery, and coping on table-tennis athlete burnout symptoms in considering both the roles of individual and contextual (training center) factors. One hundred and fifty-nine youth elite table-tennis players (Mage = 14.07, SD = 2.13) involved in 15 intensive training centers completed self-report questionnaires and socio-demographic data. When time 1 (T1) levels 1 (individual) and 2 (training group, contextual factor) stress, recovery, and coping were simultaneously entered as predictors of each of the three burnout symptoms (physical and emotional exhaustion, sport devaluation, reduced accomplishment) at T2 (controlling for levels 1 and 2 burnout at T1), the results of multilevel analyses revealed that: (a) T1 level 1 recovery significantly negatively predicted T2 reduced accomplishment (β = -0.23, p = 0.03); (b) T1 level 2 disengagement-oriented coping significantly negatively predicted T2 reduced accomplishment (β = -0.71, p = 0.03); and (c) T1 level 2 task-oriented coping marginally significantly positively predicted T2 physical and emotional exhaustion (β = 0.99, p = 0.06). Results of the present study provided evidence for the usefulness to disentangle the variances attributable to the individual (level 1) and contextual (level 2; training group) levels of the predictors (recovery, stress and coping) of athlete burnout. Moreover, rather than examining the antecedent role of stress on athlete burnout, it could be particularly fruitful to explore theoretical constructs able to annihilate the maladaptive effects of chronic stress such as coping and recovery.

A systematic review of the factors associated with athlete burnout in team sports

ABSTRACT Athlete burnout is a psychological syndrome with substantial negative consequences, including depression and sport dropout. It has been linked to a range of factors, some of which may vary across different sport-types. This review is the first to synthesise variables examined in relation to burnout in team-sports specifically. An online search of seven relevant databases yielded 59 papers examining 123 burnout correlates. Eligible papers were peer-reviewed, quantitative empirical studies, which assessed burnout using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Results are reported in-line with PRISMA guidelines. Weighted meta-analysis (WMA) assessed the strength of the relationship between burnout dimensions and 18 variables examined across ≥3 samples. A narrative synthesis of the remaining cross-sectional, longitudinal and mediating/moderating relationships provides a comprehensive overview of the literature. Burnout displayed a negative relationship with autonomy, competence, relatedness, self-determined motivation, positive affect, autonomy supportive coach, harmonious passion, self-oriented perfectionism and social support, and a positive relationship with amotivation, negative affect, obsessive passion, socially-prescribed perfectionism, ego-involving climate, playing experience and controlling coach style in the WMA. Some variability in relationships was identified across the dimensions of burnout. The results highlight the key factors associated with the dimension of burnout in team sports, which may inform targeted intervention strategies.

Examining the roles of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion on the effects from mindfulness to athlete burnout: A longitudinal study

ObjectivesAthlete burnout is a maladaptive outcome that is potentially detrimental for performance and wellbeing. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that mindfulness might be associated with athlete burnout via experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion. In the current study, we extend knowledge of these hypothesized mediational pathways using a longitudinal design. MethodsData was collected at three occasions with a three-month interval. A final sample of 280 elite Chinese athletes aged 15–32 years (Mage = 19.13; SD = 2.92; Female = 130) reported their mindfulness at Time 1, experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion at Time 2, and athlete burnout at Time 3. Structural equation modelling was adopted to examine the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion on the effects from mindfulness to athlete burnout. ResultsWe found statistically meaningful directs effects from mindfulness (Time 1) to experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion (Time 2), which in turn influenced athlete burnout (Time 3). However, the direct effect from mindfulness at Time 1 to athlete burnout at Time 3 was non-significant. The indirect effects of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion on the effects from mindfulness to athlete burnout were significant, providing longitudinal evidence that these two variables contribute meaningfully to the mindfulness-burnout pathway. ConclusionWith initial evidence for the mediating effects of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, future studies could consider using experimental designs to examine the potential changing mechanisms of mindfulness on reducing athlete burnout.

Relationship between resilience, optimism, and burnout in Pan-American athletes.

A series of knowledge has been developed on burnout syndrome in the sports context that has allowed to generate a solid theoretical structure that requires new contributions to delve into those aspects that have been less addressed, as is the case of optimism and resilience when it comes to linking them to the syndrome in top-performance athletes. For this purpose, the Burnout Inventory for Athletes (IBD-r), the Resilience Scale adapted to Spanish, and the Life Orientation Scale-Revised (LOT-R) for optimism were used. From this perspective, the study was approached with 121 Uruguayan athletes who participated in the last Pan-American Games, assuming practically all the subjects who have this level of sport (142) considering gender and type of sport. The results indicate that 67% of the sample presents burnout symptoms for the emotional exhaustion dimension, and moderate resilience and optimism. Although there are no significant differences attributable to gender or type of sport, this contribution allows us to continue focusing on future work and further analysis. The type of sport presented statistically significant differences in relation to the personal competence dimension and the type of sport. Resilience and optimism obtained a clear influence on the occurrence of burnout, in a statistically negative sense, showing themselves as interesting prevention strategies for future lines of research, where it is essential to design interventions that teach emotional skills to manage adversity and prevent burnout.

The effect of the perceived social support on mental health of Chinese college soccer players during the COVID-19 lockdown: The chain mediating role of athlete burnout and hopelessness.

The isolation and blockade during the COVID-19 pandemic have a great impact on the mental health of Chinese college soccer players. This study aimed to explore the effect of perceived social support on mental health of college soccer players, as well as the mediating role of athlete burnout and hopelessness during the COVID-19 lockdown. Based on a sample of 674 college soccer players from several universities in China, the study used the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The results indicated that: (1) there was a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (2) the athlete burnout played a mediating role between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (3) the hopelessness also played a mediating role between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (4) the athlete burnout and hopelessness played a chain mediating role between perceived social support and mental health. These findings could contribute to insight into the mechanisms by which perceived social support affects the mental health of college soccer players and provide important practical guidance for protecting and promoting their mental health.

Interrelation of academic emotional burnout and various types of addictions in student-athletes

Relevance. The article emphasizes the relevance of students' emotional burnout study. This phenomenon is defined as academic burnout. It is noted that in student-athletes development it is due to the heterochronism of the professional activity stages and professional training stages. The similarity of the third burnout stage and addictive behavior is highlighted. The question is raised about the relationship between academic burnout and various kinds of addictions. The data of an experimental study, which included the study of two groups of student-athletes: full-time students, with an average age of 19 years, and part-time students, with an average age of 34 years, are presented. It was found that both groups have high burnout rates. Due to their age, young athletes prefer non-chemical addictions such as gaming and social media. In the adult group, attempts to cope with burnout were more associated with chemical addiction and workaholism. Using statistical methods, the relationship between emotional burnout in student athletes and a tendency to addictive behavior has been proved.Research methods and organization: Currently, the problem of various types of addictions – chemical and non–chemical - is gaining great importance and is reflected in the fundamental research of authors studying the nature and mechanisms of addictions.

Athlete burnout and perfectionism in objectively and subjectively assessed sports

When athletes are burning out, performance decreases whereas exhaustion and devaluation increases. Athletes with perfectionistic tendencies may be at greater risk for burnout than those with lower levels. But are there any differences between athletes participating in objectively assessed sports (utilizing unbiased measures, such as time, e.g. swimming) and athletes participating in subjectively assessed sports (relying on coach feedback, competition judges, or internal perceptions to gauge performance, e.g. competitive dancing)? A total of 108 athletes (including 53 athletes in objectively assessed and 55 athletes in subjectively assessed sports) completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2 and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Significant relationships were detected between perfectionism and burnout; negative dimensions of perfectionism were more strongly correlated with burnout. However, no significant differences were observed between the sports groupings, either on perfectionism or burnout. This study suggests that perfectionistic concerns are positively associated with athlete burnout, regardless of the athlete's sport being objectively or subjectively assessed.