Five unsolved issues concerning burnout in athletes: An expert perspective

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Concern about mental health is an increasingly relevant topic in high-performance sport. In this regard, because burnout can be harmful to both the health and performance of athletes, it is of particular importance. Although a great deal of time and effort has been dedicated to the study of athlete burnout, there are still issues that require further work. Therefore, in the present paper, we aim to highlight what, in our perspective, are the most important unsolved issues regarding burnout in athletes. Methods: We brought together expert athlete burnout scholars to offer their perspectives on five unresolved issues in this research area. Results: We describe the following five issues that require further research attention: (i) burnout as a syndrome, (ii) the negative consequences of burnout, (iii) the role of recovery in burnout, (iv) the importance of the social environment, and (v) developing effective interventions to reduce/prevent burnout. Conclusion: Our commentary provides suggestions for future research to help solve these problems, advance our understanding of athlete burnout, and ultimately safeguard the mental health of athletes.

Keywords

• competitive sports
• mental health
• social environment
• recovery
• psychological interventions