The Effect Of Mental Toughness On Athlete Burnout:the Mediating Effect Of Coping Style

In order to explore the relationship between mental toughness and athlete burnout, as well as the mediating effect of coping style, a sample of483Chinese active athletes were recruited in the study to complete Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire, Coping Strategies Inventory for Competitive Sport, Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. The main conclusions of this study are as follows:(1) Gender significantly influenced the athlete mental toughness. Specifically, male athlete was significantly higher than female athlete on mental toughness; gender did not significantly affect coping style and athlete burnout.(2) Training year was significantly positive correlated with mental toughness, task-oriented coping, and distraction-oriented coping. However, it was significantly negative correlated with disengagement-oriented coping. Training year was not significantly correlated with three dimensions of athlete burnout.(3) Age was significantly positive correlated with mental toughness, task-oriented coping, and distraction-oriented coping. However, it was not significantly correlated with disengagement-oriented coping. Age was not significantly correlated with three dimensions of athlete burnout.(4) Mental toughness was significantly negative correlated with athlete burnout and its three dimensions. Mental toughness was significantly positive correlated with task-oriented coping and significantly negative correlated with disengagement-oriented coping. What’s more, it was not significantly correlated with distraction-oriented coping.(5) Task-oriented coping was significantly negative correlated with athlete burnout, sports devaluation, and reduced sense of achievement. It was not significantly correlated with emotional/physical exhaustion. Distraction-oriented coping was significantly positive correlated with athlete burnout and its three dimensions. Disengagement-oriented coping was significantly positive correlated with athlete burnout and its three dimensions.(6) Mental toughness significantly negatively predicted athlete burnout.(7) Coping style partially mediated the relationship between mental toughness and athlete burnout. The mediating effect accounted for66%of the total effect. This suggested that coping style was more proximal factor of athlete burnout when compared with mental toughness. We can lower the level of athlete burnout by strengthening mental toughness and conducting coping style guidance.