Perspective taking as a predictor of burnout among competitive adolescent squash players

Abstract

Athlete burnout (ABO) has been identified as a significant concern among youth sportspeople. Conceptualisations of self, or perspective taking, predict mental health among non-athlete adolescents. Consequently, this study aimed to determine how much perspective-taking contributes to ABO among adolescent athletes. A non-experimental correlational design was employed to explore the utility of a three selves model of perspective-taking to predict ABO. One-hundred and sixty-five competitive adolescent squash players were recruited via convenience sampling. Participants completed measures of ABO, Self-as-Content, Self-as-Process and Self-as-Context. Regression analyses were employed to determine the utility of the three-selves model in predicting ABO in the sample. All components of ABO were positively associated with Self-as-Content, and negatively correlated with Self-as-Process and Self-as-Context. Furthermore, Self-as-Content independently predicted a reduced sense of athletic accomplishment and greater sport devaluation. Reduced physical and emotional exhaustion was only predicted by Self-as-Process. Contrary to existing theoretical and empirical literature, Self-as-Context only emerged as a significant predictor of a reduced sense of athletic accomplishment. The current study suggests that perspective-taking plays a noteworthy, yet complex, role in the experience of ABO among competitive adolescent athletes.