The toll of the scroll: A path toward burnout.

Athletes report using social networking sites, including Instagram, to manage their self-presentations. While on Instagram, they may browse content and interact with others, enabling them to socially compare themselves to other athletes. Less favorable comparisons may contribute to higher burnout perceptions. The purpose of the current study was to (a) examine if the use of Instagram contributed to burnout perceptions and (b) if type of use and social comparison mediated these relationships. Male and female collegiate athletes (N = 162) completed measures of Instagram usage, social comparison, and burnout during their sport season. Latent path analysis using robust maximum likelihood estimation was used to examine the model. Daily time spent on Instagram was directly associated with exhaustion (ß = -0.32) and reduced accomplishment (ß = -0.21). Browsing was directly associated with exhaustion (ß = 0.39), reduced accomplishment (ß = 0.38), and sport devaluation (ß = 0.27). Interacting was directly associated with devaluation (ß = -0.23). Social comparison while using Instagram was directly associated with reduced accomplishment (ß = -0.35) and devaluation (ß = -0.34). Browsing mediated the relationship between time spent on Instagram and exhaustion (ß = 0.13) and reduced accomplishment (ß = 0.13). Social comparison was not a mediator. Results suggest that scrolling through posts on Instagram explains why time spent on the platform contributes to burnout perceptions. Comparing oneself favorably to others while using Instagram, independent of time spent on Instagram as well as type of use, may reduce burnout while comparing oneself unfavorably may enhance burnout perceptions.

Communication profiles and sport experiences of collegiate track and field athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Athletes often communicate with one another and exchange information, attitudes, and feelings that can influence their sport experiences. In an effort to better understand the sport communication context, the purpose of the current study was to (a) describe communication profiles of athletes (b) examine potential predictors (i.e., team identity, sex) of profile membership, and (c) examine the salience of these profiles by assessing profile group differences on athletes' perceptions of burnout, engagement, satisfaction, and enjoyment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey-based study. METHOD: Collegiate track and field athletes (N = 219) completed measures of demographic information, team communication, team identity, burnout, engagement, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Communication profiles were examined using latent profile analysis. Using the three-step method in Mplus, possible prediction of profile membership and profile differences in perceptions of sport experiences were examined. RESULTS: Three profiles emerged: the Less Effective Communicators, the Supportive Communicators, and the Functional Communicators. Athletes with greater team identity were more likely to be in the Supportive Communicators profile (p < 0.001), male participants were more likely to be in the Functional Communicators profile (p < 0.05) than the other profiles, and female participants were less likely to be in the Less Effective Communicators profile than the Supportive Communicators profile (p < 0.05). The Less Effective Communicators had greater perceptions of burnout (ps < 0.01) and lower perceptions of engagement (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), satisfaction (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001), and enjoyment (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05) than the Supportive and Functional Communicators. Supportive Communicators had greater satisfaction (p < 0.001) and enjoyment (p < 0.001) than the Functional Communicators. CONCLUSIONS: Different profiles of communication in track and field athletes may have implications for athletes' sport experiences and warrant continued study.

Physical Activity and the Link Among Stress, Burnout, and Well-Being in Athletic Trainers.

CONTEXT: Stress is a leading cause of burnout in working professionals, including athletic trainers (ATs). One consequence of burnout for ATs is lower perceptions of well-being, which have implications for mental and physical health. Physical activity is known to help reduce stress. Thus, activity may help reduce stress and burnout in ATs while enhancing well-being. OBJECTIVE: To examine a theoretically based mediating model whereby leisure time physical activity was linked to subjective well-being by way of ATs' perceived stress and burnout. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Online survey during the fall sports season. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Practicing certified ATs (N = 163; mean age = 30.5 ± 6.7 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Via a secure link, participants completed a survey that measured leisure time planned physical activity, work-related stress, burnout, and perceived life satisfaction. Latent variable analysis was used to examine the hypothesized mediating model. RESULTS: Minutes spent in moderate or vigorous activity were not associated with stress. Minutes spent walking were negatively associated with perceived stress (ß = -0.18, P < .001). Stress was positively associated with exhaustion (ß = 0.89, P < .001), negatively associated with personal accomplishment (ß = -0.70, P < .001), and positively associated with depersonalization (ß = 0.71, P < .001). Exhaustion was negatively associated (ß = -0.57, P < .001) and personal accomplishment was positively associated (ß = 0.31, P = .013) with well-being. Minutes spent walking were positively linked to well-being via stress and exhaustion. The negative relationship between stress and well-being was mediated by exhaustion and personal accomplishment. CONCLUSIONS: Leisure time walking was indirectly and positively linked to well-being. Walking could be a strategy to reduce stress and burnout in ATs and thereby improve well-being.