The Effect of Sport Motivation on Burnout in Adolescent Athletes — Chain Mediating Effect of Life Satisfaction and Mental Toughness

This study explored the effects of sport motivation on athlete burnout among adolescent athletes and examined the mediating roles of life satisfaction and mental toughness. A total of 638 adolescent athletes (mean age = 15.64 ± 2.28 years) were assessed using the athletic motivation scale, the satisfaction with life scale, the adolescent mental toughness scale, and the athlete burnout questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Process for chain mediation analysis. Results indicated that sport motivation negatively predicted athlete burnout in both male (r = −0.523) and female athletes (r = −0.491). For male athletes, the total effect of sport motivation on athlete burnout was −0.374, with direct and indirect effects of −0.188 and −0.186, respectively. For female athletes, the total effect was −0.601, with direct and indirect effects of −0.363 and −0.238, respectively. Male athletes showed indirect effects through mental toughness (effect = −0.174; share = 46.52%) and the chain mediation of life satisfaction and mental toughness (effect = −0.072; share = 19.25%). Female athletes exhibited indirect effects through life satisfaction (effect = −0.043; share = 7.15%), mental toughness (effect = −0.151; share = 25.12%), as well as the chain mediation of life satisfaction and mental toughness (effect = −0.044; share = 7.32%). This study highlights the role of sport motivation in reducing athlete burnout. For female athletes, burnout was influenced by all three mediating pathways (life satisfaction, mental toughness, and their chain mediation). For male athletes, the effects were predominantly mediated through mental toughness and the chain mediation of life satisfaction along with mental toughness.