Perfectionism, Burnout, and Depression in Youth Soccer Players: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The relationship between perfectionism, burnout and depression among youth soccer players is of interest due to the stressful academy environments that must be navigated in order to become a professional soccer player. Three alternative theoretical models have been proposed to explain the relationship between perfectionism, burnout and depression. These models state that perfectionism is (a) a vulnerability factor for burnout and depression (vulnerability Researchers have recently begun to examine the negative experiences of junior athletes within in youth soccer academies. This is in part because youth soccer academies have the potential to be stressful. Boys can join development centres in soccer academies of professional clubs in the UK from 5 years old. They are formally registered to the club at the age of 9 and, thereafter, undergo an ongoing registration process where they are released on a yearly basis if they do not play to the requisite standard. The next key point in the process is the age of 16, when boys will need to secure a scholarship to continue at the academy. Again, thereafter, the selection process can continue up until the age of 23 when it must be decided whether they are to join the professional first team squad or be released (See Premier League:Elite Player Performance Plan, 2011). Of the minority of players that do secure a scholarship at the age of 16, approximately 98% are no longer playing by the age of 21 and, in total, it is estimated that less than 1% of youth players reach the professional ranks (Gernon, 2016;Green, 2009). For these reasons, the soccer academy environment is intense, fiercely competitive, and for some it can be experienced as unsupportive and marginalizing (Roderick, 2006).In the hope of better safeguarding junior athletes from the potential negative consequences of pursuing a career in soccer, the current study examined burnout and depressive symptoms among junior athletes attending youth soccer academies. It also examined how, in this context, burnout and depression might be related to perfectionism among junior athletes. We first define and describe athlete burnout, depressive symptoms, and perfectionism, as well as review research examining them in sport. We then discuss research that has examined the relationships between them and offer three alternative PERFECTIONISM, BURNOUT AND DEPRESSION 4 theoretical models that might explain their inter-relationships over time (vulnerability model, complication/scar model, and reciprocal relations model). Athlete BurnoutAthlete burnout is one possible outcome of competing within a soccer academy.Athlete burnout is characterised by three core symptoms: a reduced sense of accomplishment, physical and emotional exhaustion, and sport devaluation (Raedeke & Smith, 2001). A reduced sense of accomplishment is an athlete's perception of inadequate sporting abilities and achievement. Athletes come to believe that they are unable to reach their goals or are consistently performing below their capabilities, regardless of ...

Do Athlete and Coach Performance Perfectionism Predict Athlete Burnout?

“…Hill, Hall, Appleton, & Kozub, 2008), longitudinal evidence indicates that it may be unrelated to burnout over time (e.g. Smith et al, 2018). In contrast, researchers have consistently found that socially prescribed perfectionism is positively related to athlete burnout (e.g.…”

“…Other-oriented perfectionism has typically been excluded from these studies as it has been viewed as less important to the development of burnout (cf. Smith et al, 2018). This omission originates from the assertion that otheroriented perfectionism is an interpersonal dimension that has less relevance to self-referenced or personal outcomes (Hewitt & Flett, 1991).…”

Diagnosing problems, prescribing solutions, and advancing athlete burnout research

“…The second reason is that they are empirically distinct. In sport, there are three studies that have examined the correlation between burnout and depression in athletes (N = 856; Cresswell & Eklund, 2006;Raedeke et al, 2013;Smith et al, 2018). On average, across the symptoms of burnout, this correlation is around .50.…”

Foot typology, body weight distribution, and postural stability of adolescent elite soccer players: A 3-year longitudinal study

“…Moreover, this may further negatively impact one’s health status in their adulthood. Recently, a few studies were conducted using a longitudinal study design in youth soccer players, especially the injury incidence [ 26 ], a relationship of peak high velocity and performance [ 27 ], and, also psychological factors in adolescent soccer players [ 28 ]. However, no study had investigated the long-term progression of such specific factors as foot morphology, BW distribution, and PS in young professional soccer players.…”