The relationship between burnout and depression in intercollegiate athletes: An examination of gender and sport-type

ABSTRACT

Researchers have examined burnout and depression in athletes, yet there are no investigations of the relationship of these two constructs in intercollegiate athletes. This study examined potential gender and sport-type differences (team versus individual) in the strength of the relationship between sport burnout and depression. Participants were 422 intercollegiate athletes from 19 sports. Participants completed burnout and depression surveys as well as a depressive symptom checklist. There were moderate to strong positive correlations between burnout symptoms and depression and there were significant regression models for both genders and sport types. Some gender and sport-type differences emerged. Additionally, 47% of participants who reported previously experiencing burnout also reported five or more concurrent depressive symptoms. Based on the results, sport burnout should be considered a serious mental health concern. Results are discussed in terms of screening and treatment for athlete subgroups and the conceptualization of burnout as a psychological construct.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health
• mood
• sport
• burnout
• depression
• student-athlete
• overtraining
• gender

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Arianna Martignetti has her master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Western Washington University and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Western States. She is currently a visiting instructor in the psychology department at Manhattanville College.

Dr. Jessyca Arthur-Cameselle is a licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Department of Health and Human Development at Western Washington University. She has a doctorate in counseling psychology, with an emphasis in sport psychology counseling, from Boston University. Dr. Arthur-Cameselle’s research focuses on clinical sport psychology topics, including burnout and eating disorders, as well as mindfulness interventions for athletes.

Dr. Linda Keeler is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) in the Department of Health and Human Development at Western Washington University. She has a doctorate in SEP and a master’s degree in Counseling from West Virginia University in addition to a master's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Keeler mentors SEP graduate students in consulting and research and her current scholarship interests includes physical activity interventions for mental health.

Dr. Gordon Chalmers is a Professor of Kinesiology in the Department of Health and Human Development at Western Washington University. Dr. Chalmers has a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his research area is neuromuscular physiology.