The effects of personal and situational factors on burnout in youth sport

It is widely recognized that organized sport plays an important role in the psychophysical development of children and youth. Health benefits, such as improved muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and skill development derive from participating in sport. In addition, sporting activities offer youth opportunities for challenging and enjoying experiences, and to increase self-esteem and subjective well-being. Some young athletes could perceive physical and psychological demands of sport as excessive. A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that results from excessive demands of training and competing is defined burnout. This state can lead to an unpleasant sport experience and, eventually, to discontinuation or withdrawal. The aim of our study was to examine the relationships among personal factors (perceived competence and resilience), a situational factor (motivational climate), and burnout in young athletes.