Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2017

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Health Education

First Advisor

Jeffrey J. Martin

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess salient psychosocial predictors of both academic and athletic burnout and engagement in college student athletes. Method: One-hundred and seventy-nine male and female college student athletes were recruited from a Midwestern University to complete a questionnaire at one time point. Results: The prediction model for athlete burnout was statistically significant, F (4,174) = 16.41, p<.001, and accounted for approximately 27% of the variance. The prediction model for athlete engagement was also statistically significant, F (4,174) = 9.25, p ≤ .001, and accounted for approximately 18% of the variance. The prediction model for student burnout was statistically significant, F (6,172) = 3.79, p<.005, and accounted for approximately 10% of the variance. The prediction model for student engagement was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Athletes who felt misunderstood by their coach, felt their coach did not provide options and choices, and who felt their coach was not confident in their sport ability experienced symptoms of athlete burnout while athletes who felt understood by their coach, felt their coach provided options and choices, and who felt their coach had confidence in their sport ability, believed in their ability to accomplish their sport goals, felt engaged in their sport. Also, athletes who felt their coach was less friendly and supportive if they were not training and competing well, felt intimidated by their coach, and who felt their coach tried to control their free time and who also felt their teammates did not encourage them to study or did not make sure they got to class had high student burnout. Application: Coaches should aim to create an autonomy supportive coaching climate in which athletes feelings of autonomy are enhanced. Exploratory findings also suggest decreasing controlling coaching behaviors and increasing teammate academic social support may be important in thwarting feelings of student burnout in student athletes.

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