Exploring Variations in Burnout Across Team versus Individual Sports: Coping Strategies as a Mediator Between Psychological Capital and Burnout in Tier 3 Athletes

Athlete burnout remains a critical issue within the realm of elite sports, particularly among those participating in individual disciplines, who may be more susceptible compared to their counterparts in team sports. This cross-sectional survey research aimed to explore the disparity in burnout levels between individual and team sport athletes, examine how psychological capital (PsyCap) relates to athlete burnout, and determine whether coping strategies serve as a mediating factor in this relationship. A total of 119 tier 3 athletes participated in the study, completing standardized measures of PsyCap, coping mechanisms, and burnout symptoms. The findings indicated that athletes engaged in individual sports experienced notably higher levels of burnout than their counterparts in team sports (p<0.001). Athletes in individual sports experienced higher levels of exhaustion (*d* = 2.37, a large effect size). Moreover, we found that PsyCap was negatively associated with burnout (p<0.01), indicating that athletes with higher levels of psychological resources experienced fewer symptoms of burnout. Further examination revealed that coping strategies served as a full mediator in this relationship; athletes with elevated PsyCap were more likely to utilize effective coping methods, which in turn helped mitigate burnout. Overall, the model explained a substantial amount of the variance in burnout levels among the athletes. These results highlight the vital role of both PsyCap and effective coping techniques in mitigating burnout risks among elite athletes. Interventions aimed at enhancing these protective factors may help prevent or mitigate burnout among elite athletes, particularly those in individual sports.