The multifaceted nature of athlete burnout: Psychological, cognitive, and physiological correlates in elite sports

Athlete burnout is increasingly recognized as a pressing challenge in elite sport, with potential consequences for athletes’ health and long-term engagement. Conceptualized as a multidimensional syndrome comprising emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation, burnout is particularly relevant in elite contexts where high training demands, competitive pressures, and insufficient recovery create conditions of chronic stress. Although psychological aspects of burnout have been widely investigated, important questions remain regarding their assessment and dynamics in elite contexts. In addition, cognitive and physiological dimensions have received comparatively less attention, despite being central to stress-based models of maladaptation. Against this background, the present Ph.D. project aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of athlete burnout by adopting a multidimensional perspective and focusing on its psychological, cognitive, and physiological correlates within elite sport contexts. To this end, four studies were conducted. First, a systematic review synthesized evidence on the psychological and cognitive consequences of non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome in elite athletes, situating burnout within the continuum of training maladaptation. Second, a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire was conducted, ensuring the availability of a reliable and culturally appropriate measure. Third, a person-centered approach was employed to identify distinct burnout profiles among high-level athletes, with attention to individual differences in motivational orientations, resilience, and distress. Finally, a three-wave longitudinal design was used to explore the temporal associations between burnout and, on the one hand, psychophysiological functioning and, on the other, cognitive functioning. Overall, this project contributes to a multidimensional understanding of athlete burnout and underscores the importance of examining it not only as a psychological construct but also in relation to cognitive and physiological processes. Evidence from the studies contributes to the early detection and tailored management of burnout, offering insights that may inform prevention and intervention strategies aimed at protecting athlete well-being and sustaining performance in high-pressure environments.