Information from the abstract
Introduction Youth athletes with extremely high accomplishments are under intense training that predisposes them to experiencing stress and emotional problems. This study sought to explore the relationship between burnout, recovery, flow, and psychological functioning among youth high-performance athletes in Guangdong province, China, employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach. Methods Quantitative data were collected from 450 youth high-performance athletes, while qualitative data were collected from 35 youth athletes and 12 coaches using reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative analysis involved correlation, structural equation modeling, and multilevel regression. Results Training load (β = 0.342, p < 0.001) and perceived stress (β = 0.298, p < 0.001) positively predicted athlete burnout. Recovery experience (β = −0.324, p < 0.001), flow experience (β = −0.276, p < 0.001), coaching support (β = −0.281, p < 0.001), resilience (β = −0.196, p < 0.001), and sleep quality (β = −0.173, p < 0.001) had a significant negative relationship with burnout. Fit indices indicated satisfactory construct validity (CFI = 0.947, TLI = 0.939, RMSEA = 0.051, SRMR = 0.047). Mediation analysis showed significant indirect effects of recovery on the training load-burnout relationship [β = 0.121, 95% CI (0.067, 0.183)], and of flow on the coaching support–burnout relationship [β = −0.109, 95% CI (−0.158, −0.061)]. Discussion Four themes emerged from the qualitative data — training stress, recovery control, flow, and coaching environment — reinforcing the quantitative findings that psychological recovery and optimal-performance states are key protective mechanisms against burnout in youth high-performance sport.
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Related topics: Flow Experience in Various Fields · Sport Psychology and Performance · Resilience and Mental Health
Thai researcher and institutional participation
Yinan Zhang · Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
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