The many faces of athlete burnout in elite and amateur sport identified through cluster analysis

Tutte- Vallarino V.; Malán- Ernst E.; Brandão R.; Reche-García C.; Ortín F.; Reyes-Bossio M.; Chiminelli-Tomás V.; Peris-Delcampo D.; García-Mas A. · Discover Mental Health (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s44192-026-00423-6

Resumen

Athlete burnout has traditionally been examined as a phenomenon mainly associated with high-performance sport; however, growing evidence suggests that it may also affect amateur athletes. This study aimed to analyze burnout in high-performance and amateur athletes, integrating gender differences and a person-centered approach through cluster analysis. A cross-sectional design was applied to 511 athletes (38.0% high-performance and 62.0% amateur) using the Revised Athlete Burnout Inventory (IBD-R). Descriptive and inferential analyses examined differences by competitive level and gender, while hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses identified burnout profiles. Results showed similar levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization across competitive levels, with specific differences in reduced personal accomplishment. Four burnout profiles were identified: Healthy, Reduced Accomplishment, Emotional Exhaustion, and Depersonalization-dominant burnout, differentially distributed by gender and competitive level. These findings indicate that burnout is a transversal phenomenon in sport and highlight the value of person-centered approaches for prevention and intervention across competitive contexts. © The Author(s) 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas