Descriptive Study of Burnout Symptoms in Collegiate Athletes During the Competitive Season

Dr, Shubham Kumar , Rahul Arora

Athlete burnout, collegiate athletes, emotional exhaustion, Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, sports psychology, competitive season, overtraining, sport devaluation, student-athlete well-being, mental health interventions, training load, athletic performance

Burnout is a chronic psychological condition experienced by athletes who are exposed to prolonged physical, emotional, and social stressors. In collegiate athletics, burnout may become especially pronounced during the competitive season, when athletes are expected to maintain high levels of performance while also managing academic responsibilities, travel schedules, team obligations, and recovery demands. Unlike ordinary fatigue, burnout develops over time and is often characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion, a reduced sense of athletic accomplishment, and a growing devaluation of sport participation. This descriptive study investigates burnout symptoms among collegiate athletes participating in six sports: basketball, football, track and field, swimming, volleyball, and tennis. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare burnout levels across sport types during the midpoint of the competitive season, a period when athletes are likely to experience increased training intensity, pressure to perform, and cumulative fatigue. A total of 180 athletes participated in the study, with 30 athletes selected from each sport. Participants were drawn from two regional universities and were actively competing at the intercollegiate level. A descriptive survey design was used. Burnout symptoms were measured using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), which assesses three major dimensions of athlete burnout: emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation. Scores were converted to a 0-100 scale to allow for easier comparison across sports. Results showed that football athletes reported the highest average burnout score at 75, followed by basketball athletes at 72 and volleyball athletes at 70. Swimming athletes reported a moderate burnout score of 68, while track and field athletes reported an average score of 65. Tennis players reported the lowest average burnout score at 60. The findings suggest that sport-specific factors may influence the severity of burnout symptoms among collegiate athletes. Sports involving frequent physical contact, intense team expectations, extensive travel, and high public visibility may place athletes at greater risk for burnout. Conversely, sports with more individualized pacing, greater perceived autonomy, or more flexible competitive structures may be associated with lower burnout levels. This study provides useful descriptive insight for coaches, athletic departments, trainers, and sports psychology professionals seeking to develop sport-specific mental health interventions, recovery plans, and workload management strategies. The results also highlight the importance of monitoring athletes' psychological well-being throughout the competitive season rather than focusing only on physical performance outcomes.

Volume 14 Issue 5, May-2026

Pages : c118-c125