Burnout and Mental Interventions among Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Studies

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 26;19(17):10662. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710662.

Abstract

(1) Background: The subject of athlete burnout is often discussed among sports psychologists. Interventions to reduce this phenomenon are still under investigation with follow-ups. Thus, the purpose of the current meta-analysis is to examine psychological interventions that was carried out to decrease or eliminate burnout syndrome in young athletes. (2) Methods: Scientific electronic databases were searched, and five published studies published between January and June 2022 that met the criteria were selected. The systematic review and meta-analyses followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias was used to assess the studies' quality. Metafor, a package of the R statistical program, was used to perform the analysis. (3) Results: Cognitive behavioral therapy- and mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced most dimensions of burnout. Moreover, online interventions were significantly more beneficial in this reduction. (4) Conclusions: There should be more high-quality studies on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing burnout, mainly because it leads to tremendous physical and psychological problems for athletes and their coaches; therefore, it requires particular interventions and prevention strategies.

Keywords: burnout phenomenon; child and adolescent athletes; online intervention; psychological intervention.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Athletes / psychology
  • Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
  • Burnout, Professional* / psychology
  • Burnout, Psychological / therapy
  • Humans
  • Mindfulness* / methods
  • Sports*

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.