Burnout and Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Student-Athletes: Exploring Perceived Causes, Effects and Coping Mechanisms

This study examined the relationship between burnout, coping mechanisms, and athletic performance among collegiate basketball student-athletes in the National University System. Anchored on Self-Determination Theory and the Cognitive-Affective Model of Athletic Burnout, the study investigated the perceived causes of burnout, burnout dimensions, coping mechanisms, and their influence on athletic performance. A quantitative-correlational research design was employed involving 254 collegiate basketball student-athletes from nine National University campuses. Universal sampling was utilized, and data were collected using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28), a Self-Determination Theory-guided questionnaire, and a researcher-developed athletic performance instrument. Descriptive statistics, Spearman's rank-order correlation, reliability analysis, and mediation analysis were performed using SPSS. The findings revealed that respondents generally experienced low levels of burnout, with emotional and physical exhaustion emerging as the most evident burnout dimension, while sport devaluation was least evident. The respondents generally did not perceive autonomy, competence, and relatedness as major causes of burnout and demonstrated frequent use of adaptive coping mechanisms, particularly coachability, confidence and motivation, coping with adversity, and goal setting. Burnout was found to negatively influence cognitive and physical aspects of athletic performance, whereas motivation and effort remained relatively stable. Coping mechanisms demonstrated only a small mediating effect on the relationship between burnout and athletic performance, indicating that burnout continues to influence performance despite the presence of adaptive coping strategies. The study concludes that maintaining supportive athletic environments, promoting athlete-centered coaching, strengthening psychological well-being, and implementing comprehensive burnout prevention programs are essential for sustaining athletic performance among collegiate basketball student-athletes. The findings further support the development of evidence-based institutional interventions that integrate mental health promotion, recovery strategies, and athlete support services. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being by promoting the psychological well-being of collegiate student-athletes and SDG 4: Quality Education by supporting balanced academic and athletic development within higher education institutions. The study contributes to public health and educational sustainability by providing evidence that may guide universities, coaches, and sports professionals in developing sustainable athlete support systems that enhance mental well-being, resilience, and long-term athletic performance.