Glandorf, Hanna L ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5720-2071 (2024) A Multi-Study Examination of the Physical and Mental Health Consequences of Burnout in Athletes. In: FEPSAC Congress 2024 – Performance under pressure, 15-19 Jul 2024, Innsbruck. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Athletes in competitive sport regularly perform under pressure. Increased stress exposure from intense training and competition, however, can lead to mental and physical health difficulties. Burnout is an increasingly prevalent mental health problem in athletes that may also increase the risk for further adverse mental and physical health consequences. In a previous systematic review and meta-analysis, we highlighted the mental and physical health outcomes that may be affected. Building on the findings of our review, here we present the findings of two follow-up studies. In the first study, we have examined whether burnout can predict changes in depressive symptoms, sleep disruptions, life dissatisfaction, physical symptoms, and illness over time. To do so, we recruited a sample of 267 competitive athletes who completed measures at three timepoints over six months. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models showed that burnout predicted increased depressive symptoms. Sleep disruptions and life dissatisfaction, however, showed reciprocal effects predicting increased burnout. We found no relationships between burnout and physical symptoms and illness. In the second study, we examined links between burnout and biomarkers of hormonal and immune function dysregulation. To do so, we adopted an N-of-1 design where four athletes were recruited and saliva and intravenous blood were sampled over six-to-twelve months. We found that burnout predicted decreases in testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate, and immunoglobulin A. Together, our findings suggest that burnout can increase the risk for some health consequences, such as depressive symptoms, and it is possible that concomitant changes in biomarkers may provide the biological basis for such changes.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Speech)
Status:	Unpublished
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > Q Science (General)
School/Department:	School of Science, Technology and Health
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/10449

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