The linear and quadratic relationship between grit and burnout among athletes

Abstract

This study examined the correlation between athletes’ grit and burnout using linear and quadratic regression analyses. Study participants comprised of 314 university athletes who answered a questionnaire on socio-demographic variables, the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), and the Burnout Scale for University Athletes (BOSA). The multiple regression analyses showed negative linear correlations between grit and burnout subscale or total burnout scores. Furthermore, the relationship between the squared term of perseverance and interpersonal exhaustion, team devaluation, and burnout were positively significant, and the squared term of grit was positively connected to interpersonal exhaustion and team devaluation in BOSA. The results indicate that if grit or perseverance were found to be too high, athletes were inclined to experience interpersonal exhaustion, team devaluation, and burnout easily.