Psychological hardiness and social support as protective factors against burnout in high-performance athletes
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13131131 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Daniel Oleas (0000-0002-7347-814X, Universidad Ecotec), David Alarcón Rubio (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, corresponding author), María del Pilar Méndez-Sánchez (0000-0003-0066-5582, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico), Manuel Trujillo (0000-0002-1609-8888, New York University), José Carlos Jaenes (0000-0002-8700-130X, Universidad Pablo de Olavide) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Pages | 1726003-1726003 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-18 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fspor.2025.1726003 |
| PMID | 41487938 |
| OpenAlex | W7115887425 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 61 |
Burnout Syndrome (BOS) is a psychological condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of accomplishment, frequently observed in high-performance athletes exposed to chronic stress and competitive pressure. This study examined the role of hardiness and social support as potential protective factors against burnout and its dimensions while accounting for demographic and sports-related variables such as age, sex, and level of competition. The sample comprised 388 high-performance athletes aged between 15 and 45 years (46% women; M = 27.31, SD = 8.51). Participants completed the validated Spanish versions of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), Resilient Personality Scale for Marathoners (EPRM), and Social Support Scale (EAS). The data were analyzed using nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis test) and multiple linear regression models. The results revealed that sex was not a significant predictor of burnout, whereas age and competition level were negatively associated with overall burnout scores. Among the psychological variables, hardiness, particularly commitment and control dimensions, emerged as the strongest protective factor, whereas social support was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion and total burnout. The significant interaction between social support and competition level indicated that younger athletes had a stronger protective effect than senior athletes. These results show that social support plays a different role in competitive stages, indicating early reinforcement of athletes' social networks can significantly lower their burnout risk. Practical implications for coaches and sports psychologists in developing integrated prevention and intervention programs that enhance athletes' hardiness and social connection throughout their careers
Athletes · Burnout · Coaching · Competitive athletes · Hardiness (plants · Personality · Scale (ratio · Social support · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Resilience and Mental Health · Sport Psychology and Performance
Methodology and Application of the Kruskal-Wallis Test
Development and Preliminary Validation of an Athlete Burnout Measure
Understanding the burnout experience
Associations between life stress and athlete burnout
Basic Psychological Needs, Burnout and Engagement in Sport
Promoting and Risk Factors of Nurses’ Hardiness Levels during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Staff Burn‐Out
Hardiness and health
Stressful life events, personality, and health
Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress
Gender differences in burnout
Job Burnout
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |