Making the Connection
Examining the Antecedents and Consequences of Athlete Burnout Among Collegiate Sport Club Members
Keywords:
integrated model of athlete burnout, sport club activities, social involvement, athlete satisfactionAbstract
While athlete burnout is a heavily studied phenomenon, it has primarily been examined through a reductionist lens with particular focus on the psychological antecedents of burnout, neglecting the influence of the environment and subsequent consequences. Collegiate sport club members dedicate considerable time and effort to both managing their club and engaging in their sport while balancing their academic responsibilities, job schedules, and social lives. This unique sport context fosters an environment that may exacerbate athlete burnout and result in negative consequences. Therefore, this study sought to examine the antecedents and consequences of athlete burnout within collegiate sport clubs through an integrated model of athlete burnout. A survey was administered to 191 sport club members, representing 32 sport clubs across two universities in the United States. A K-means clustering analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to identify sport club involvement patterns and examine the antecedents and consequences of burnout, respectively. Four clusters (i.e., practice-oriented, travel-oriented, competition-oriented, low-involved) were identified through the clustering analysis. The SEM findings suggest athlete burnout is mitigated by competition-oriented sport club involvement and athlete social involvement, resulting in athlete satisfaction. Additionally, practice-oriented sport club involvement pattern was positively associated with athlete satisfaction. Implications for sport practitioners and club officers include tailoring administrative support to the needs of the individual club, facilitating social activities and integration, promoting club practice and competition, developing team goals, and connecting club members with health and wellness professionals on campus.
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