Association between athlete burnout and athletic injury

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between athlete burnout and athletic injury in a sample of Division I, varsity sport student-athletes. Participants completed an Internet-based survey that assessed demographics, self-reported perceptions of athlete burnout and athletic injury history. A significant association was not found between the number of athletic injuries and athlete burnout. There was an association between sustaining multiple athletic injuries at any given body segment and the burnout dimension of reduced sense of sport accomplishment. Dimension burnout scores on emotional and physical exhaustion were higher in currently injured when compared to uninjured student-athletes while global athlete burnout scores of student-athletes that sustained at least one athletic injury were higher compared to student-athletes that did not sustain any athletic injuries. This study informs clinician knowledge and ultimately more efficient care for the physical and psychological concerns of collegiate student-athletes.