The Puzzle of The Puzzle of Burnout: A Burnout: A

Psychological Psychological PerspectivePerspective

Siobhain McArdleDublin City UniversityCentre for Sport Science and Health

DefinedDefinedPsychological, emotional & physical withdrawal from a formerly pursued and enjoyable sport as a result of excessive stress experienced over time (Smith, 1986)

Burnout: Motivation gone Burnout: Motivation gone out of kilter or a disaster out of kilter or a disaster

waiting to happen???waiting to happen???

Adapted from R.E. Smith, 1986, Adapted from R.E. Smith, 1986,

“Cognitive-affective mode of stress & burnout”, Journal of Sport Psychology, 8(1), 40.“Cognitive-affective mode of stress & burnout”, Journal of Sport Psychology, 8(1), 40.

Personality and Motivational Factors

Situation AppraisalPhysiologic Response

Coping & TaskBehaviors

•High or conflicting demands•Insufficient recovery•Low social support

•Tension & Anger•Anxiety & Depression•Insomnia•Fatigue•Susceptibility to Illness

•Perceived lack of control•Perceived lack of meaning & accomplishment•Perceptions of increased overload

•Decreased Performance•Interpersonal Difficulties•Withdrawal from Activity

Structure & Organization of thetraining environment

Structure & Organization of Sport programs

Loss of controlBurnout

CAUSESCAUSES Severe practice conditionsSevere practice conditions Lack of recoveryLack of recovery BoredomBoredom Frustration with trying to Frustration with trying to

satisfy everybodysatisfy everybody Lack of enjoymentLack of enjoyment Difficulty balancing rugby Difficulty balancing rugby

with outside demandswith outside demands Constant injuryConstant injury Playing for additional teamsPlaying for additional teams Inability to say no to coachesInability to say no to coaches

SYMPTOMSSYMPTOMS Loss of interestLoss of interest Extreme physical Extreme physical

& emotional & emotional exhaustionexhaustion

Lack of caringLack of caring AngerAnger TensionTension Perceived Perceived

OverloadOverload

What the research says …..What the research says …..Athletes Athletes (Silva, 1990)(Silva, 1990) & Rugby Players & Rugby Players (Marshall, (Marshall,

2003)2003)

Treatment and PreventionTreatment and Prevention

Person

ENVIRO

NM

ENT

Treatment & Prevention:Treatment & Prevention:Individual LevelIndividual Level

Player Self-Monitoring Player Self-Monitoring Player must first Player must first

recognize he is suffering recognize he is suffering from overtraining and from overtraining and communicate his communicate his concerns to the coachconcerns to the coach

Educate the playerEducate the player

Treatment & Prevention:Treatment & Prevention:Individual LevelIndividual Level

What the player should be aware of: What the player should be aware of:

Increase in perceived effort in Increase in perceived effort in trainingtraining

Physical & mental exhaustionPhysical & mental exhaustion

Mood changes – highs & lowsMood changes – highs & lows

Concentration problemsConcentration problems

Loss of desire to play/lack of caringLoss of desire to play/lack of caring

Sleep disturbanceSleep disturbance

Treatment & Prevention:Treatment & Prevention:Individual LevelIndividual Level

Recovery

Medical(rehabilitation)

Psychological(regeneration)

Physical(restoration)

Treatment & Prevention:Treatment & Prevention:EnvironmentEnvironment

Coach AwarenessCoach Awareness FatigueFatigue

Skill execution & decision Skill execution & decision makingmaking

Fatigue (is expressed by Fatigue (is expressed by the quality of both)the quality of both)

Performance variationPerformance variation

Coaching BehaviourCoaching Behaviour CommunicationCommunication Emphasis on development of the Emphasis on development of the

player vs. winningplayer vs. winningWork with players to set individual short Work with players to set individual short term & long-term goalsterm & long-term goals

Positive instruction and feedback directed Positive instruction and feedback directed toward goalstoward goals

Treatment & Prevention:Treatment & Prevention:EnvironmentEnvironment

Role clarity, role Role clarity, role importanceimportance

Each player should Each player should understand how understand how his role effects his his role effects his team mateteam mate

Treatment & Prevention: Treatment & Prevention: EnvironmentEnvironment

Treatment & Prevention: Treatment & Prevention: EnvironmentEnvironment

Increase perceptions of autonomyIncrease perceptions of autonomy EducationEducation

Athletes have access to the knowledge Athletes have access to the knowledge needed to make informed choicesneeded to make informed choices

Encourage good communication Encourage good communication Encourage feedback from the players as Encourage feedback from the players as

a groupa group

Questions?????Questions?????

Athlete Centred ApproachAthlete Centred Approach Person firstPerson first Athlete SecondAthlete Second