Interplays between situational and dispositional goals perspectives and psychological burnout among junior elite tennis players

Abstract

Drawing from the social-cognitive achievement goal framework, we examined the main and interactive effects of the players' goal orientations and perceptions of the motivational climate on indicators of burnout in 225 young internationally elite tennis players (138 boys and 87 girls; M age= 15.7 ± 2.1 years). In this study, the factorial validity of the Eades Athlete Burnout Inventory (EABI), the prevalence of burnout and the relationship between weekly hours of training and burnout were also determined. Depending on their written language comprehension, participants completed the English or the Spanish versions of EABI, TEOSQ and PMCSQ-2 in different training centers. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptable fit to a theoretically-based four-factor measurement model of the EABI. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses highlighted the importance of motivational variables as correlates of burnout. We discuss the importance of achievement goal emphasis and the manifested motivational in the prevention of burnout in elite young tennis players.