The relationship between stressors and burnout in college athletes

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between stressors and burnout (in terms of stress response) in college athletes. Participants comprised 233 college athletes (84 males and 149 females; M_<age> = 20.0 years and SD = 1.2 years) who completed the daily and competitive stressor scale and the Athletic Burnout Inventory. Multiple regression analysis showed that almost all the observed factors of stressors tended to be associated with each burnout factor. It also showed that not only competitive stressors but also daily stressors were significantly related to factors leading to burnout, especially “the internal and social change in each individual” and “the content of club activity”. These findings indicate that athletes experience a wide variety of stressors during their university athletic lives, which might induce substantial stress, thus affecting their mental health. Therefore, both competitive and daily stressors need to be considered by sports psychologists when trying to reduce burnout in college athletes. Finally, the needs and implications for future research regarding the relationship between burnout and daily and competitive stressors are discussed