A qualitative analysis of burnout in elite Swedish athletes

Abstract

Objective To extend the understanding of burnout in elite athletes, including personal experiences and perceived antecedents. Design and Methods Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Swedish 22- to 26-year-old elite athletes who had quit sport due to burnout. The interview transcripts were inductively analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The findings support the notion of athlete burnout as a multidimensional syndrome. While stressors like multiple demands, 'too much sport', lack of recovery and high expectations were considered primary causes of burnout by the respondents, high motivation, unidimensional athletic identity, self-esteem strivings, high ego goals, negative perfectionist traits and feelings of entrapment were also found to be critical contributors. These restraining factors explained why the athletes continued their participation in sport despite a progressive worsening of their condition, and are therefore potentially crucial in the development of burnout. Conclusion Athlete burnout appears to be a complex interaction of multiple stressors, inadequate recovery and frustration from unfulfilled expectations, which is explained partly by maladaptive perfectionist traits and goals. This process is fuelled by a strong drive to validate self-worth, sometimes in conjunction with feelings of entrapment.