Motivation, overtraining, and burnout: Can self‐determined motivation predict overtraining and burnout in elite athletes?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether quality of self-determined motivation at the start of the competitive season in elite athletes and symptoms of overtraining can predict athlete burnout propensity at the end of the season. The participants were 141 elite winter sport athletes. In September, at the beginning of the season, the athletes responded to a self-determined motivation questionnaire, while they answered questions assessing overtraining symptoms and burnout in March, at the end of the season. Findings indicated that self-determined motivation and symptoms of overtraining were negatively and positively linked respectively to dimensions of athlete burnout. The results suggest that self-determined motivation and symptoms of overtraining are both independently linked to signs of burnout in elite athletes and that although no moderating effect was found, pairing self-determined motivation with symptoms of overtraining increased the prediction of burnout in athletes at the end of the season. Our findings are in line with those of recent research (Cresswell & Eklund, 2005;Lemyre, Treasure, & Roberts, 2006) and support a motivational approach to study burnout in elite athletes.

An Explorative Study on Major Stressors and Its Connection to Depression and Chronic Stress among German Elite Athletes

“…Kellmann, 2010;Lehmann, Gastmann, Keizer, & Steinacker, 1999). Athletes undergoing a strenuous training schedule can develop a significant decrease in performance associated with systemic symptoms or signs, which are also shown to be associated with other negative phenomena such as burnout (Lemyre, Roberts, & Stray-Gundersen, 2007). According to Angeli, Minetto, Dovio, & Paccotti (2004), this is a stress-related condition that consists of alteration of physiological functions and adaptation to performance, impairment of psychological processing, immunological dysfunction and biochemical abnormalities.…”

Burnout Levels of Handball Players with Respect to Age, Gender and Experience

“…In other words, it is stated that the compulsive effects of activity on the person lead to energy loss and exhaustion over time. From a psychological point of view, specific intentional orientations, such as participating in training or performing mandatory activities or examinations, can be defined as "work" and equally meaning "work" (Lemyre et al, 2007). In sport, the concept of burnout is a long-term abandonment of the individual's activities, and during this period the athlete does not feel excited to practice and match and also evaluates himself as unsuccessful and inadequate.…”

Propriedades psicométricas do Athlete Burnout Questionnaire para uso em atletas jovens Brasileiros

“…O valor mais elevado foi encontrado entre os componentes reduzido senso de realização pessoal e desvalorização esportiva (0,65), seguido do valor observado entre os componentes exaustão física/emocional e reduzido senso de realização pessoal (0,53). Outros estudos apoiam estes resultados 6,14,20,21 o que reforça a tese de que o conjunto dos componentes permite o cálculo de um índice de burnout mediante o uso do ABQ.…”

“…Com relação aos diferentes indicadores de validação, informações produzidas originalmente quando da proposição do instrumento são confirmadas por outros estudos 15,16 , apontando, portanto, seu potencial para análise de burnout em atletas. O ABQ foi originalmente idealizado em língua inglesa; porém, vem sendo traduzido, adaptado e validado para uso em vários outros idiomas, como é o caso de alemão 17 , árabe 18 , chinês 19 , espanhol 20 , francês 6 , norueguês 21 , português europeu 22 e sueco 23 , o que permite a expansão de sua utilização para outras culturas. Versão brasileira do ABQ foi proposta em estudo que reuniu atletas adultos de alto rendimento, com idade média próxima de 25 .…”