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. 2009 Jan-Feb;44(1):58-66.
doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-44.1.58.

Personal and environmental characteristics predicting burnout among certified athletic trainers at National Collegiate Athletic Association institutions

Michelle L Kania  1 , Barbara B Meyer, Kyle T Ebersole
Affiliations

Personal and environmental characteristics predicting burnout among certified athletic trainers at National Collegiate Athletic Association institutions

Michelle L Kania et al. J Athl Train. 2009 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Context: Recent research in the health care professions has shown that specific personal and environmental characteristics can predict burnout, which is a negative coping strategy related to stressful situations. Burnout has been shown to result in physiologic (eg, headaches, difficulty sleeping, poor appetite), psychological (eg, increased negative self-talk, depression, difficulty in interpersonal relationships), and behavioral (eg, diminished care, increased absenteeism, attrition) symptoms.

Objective: To examine the relationship between selected personal and environmental characteristics and burnout among certified athletic trainers (ATs).

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: A demographic survey that was designed for this study and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey.

Patients or other participants: A total of 206 ATs employed at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions as clinical ATs volunteered.

Main outcome measure(s): We assessed personal and environmental characteristics of ATs with the demographic survey and measured burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine relationships between specific personal and environmental characteristics and each of the 3 subscales of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment).

Results: Most ATs we surveyed experienced low to average levels of burnout. Personal characteristics predicted 45.5% of the variance in emotional exhaustion (P < .001), 21.5% of the variance in depersonalization (P < .001), and 24.8% of the variance in personal accomplishment (P < .001). Environmental characteristics predicted 16.7% of the variance in emotional exhaustion (P = .005), 14.4% of the variance in depersonalization (P = .024), and 10.4% of the variance in personal accomplishment (P = .209). Stress level and coaches' pressure to medically clear athletes predicted ratings on all 3 subscales of burnout.

Conclusions: Our findings were similar to those of other studies of burnout among NCAA Division I ATs, coaches, and coach-teachers. The results also support the Cognitive-Affective Model of Athletic Burnout proposed by Smith. Finally, these results indicate new areas of concentration for burnout research and professional practice.

Keywords: professional development; work pressure; work stress.

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