Interventions to Reduce Burnout in Students:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Burnout is common among students and can negatively influence their motivation, performance, and wellbeing. However, there is currently little consensus regarding how to intervene effectively. Consequently, we provide the first systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing burnout in students. A systematic literature search returned 17 studies (10 randomized controlled trials and 7 quasi-experimental trials), which included 2,462 students from secondary and tertiary levels of education. These studies used a range of interventions (e.g., mindfulness, rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy). When the effects were aggregated across interventions, there was evidence for their effectiveness in reducing total burnout (g+ = 0.90, p = .02, 95% CI: [0.04, 1.75], k = 14). However, we also found evidence for moderation and nonsignificant effects when certain symptoms, designs, and intervention-types were examined. The strongest evidence for effectiveness was for randomized controlled trials, rational emotive behavior therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. This review provides initial evidence for the efficacy of interventions in reducing burnout in students, but we note that a more systematic examination of particular intervention types, especially those designed to target the organisational-level, would be useful, and to have the most impact in informing policy, so too are studies examining the cost effectiveness of such interventions

The potential solutions to the challenges faced by leaders of small schools in the UK: A systematic review

Small schools often serve an important function in the local community, where their staff can enjoy close relationships with pupils, colleagues, and local community members. As with any leadership role, leaders of small schools can face challenges, some of which are unique to the small school context. To better understand these challenges and identify potential solutions to these challenges, a systematic review of the literature was conducted on the challenges and the potential solutions reported by leaders of small schools in the UK. Seventeen studies published between 2000 and 2023 were included for synthesis, which captured the experiences of headteachers of small primary schools in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. From meta-aggregating the extracted findings, five challenges were identified: (a) nature of the leadership role; (b) finances and resources; (c) relationship and partnership management; (d) teaching and learning; and (e) schools’ location and accessibility. Five potential solutions to these challenges were noted: (a) inclusive and focused leadership; (b) enhanced finances and pooled resources; (c) developing relationships and partnerships; (d) providing leaders and staff with effective support and Continuing Professional Development (CPD); and (e) enhanced school provision. Suggestions for policy and practice that can help leaders of small schools are discussed

Blunted anticipatory stress responses on competition day in team sports athletes compared to individual sports athletes

Knowledge of anticipatory stress responses before sports competitions is limited, thus this study examined the relationship between anticipatory stress in terms of salivary cortisol secretion in athletes on the morning of a competition and a comparison baseline day. Thirty-seven athletes collected three saliva samples over a 45-min period post-awakening (0, 30 and 45 min). Anticipatory stress was expressed as Area Under the Curve compared to ground (AUCg; total cortisol secretion). There was no significant difference in AUCg between baseline and competition days. However, a mixed two-factor ANOVA with day and sport type (individual vs. team) revealed a significant main effect of sport type (p < 0.01) and a significant interaction (p = 0.001). Individual athletes demonstrated increased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline, while team athletes demonstrated decreased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline. This blunting response was also observed when analysing the raw cortisol secretion levels upon awakening. These findings suggest there may be substantive differences in anticipatory stress between individual and team sport athletes

A Multi-Sample Examination of the Relationship Between Athlete Burnout and Sport Performance

Athlete burnout potentially has negative consequences for sport performance. However, to the best of our knowledge, empirical studies have yet to examine the relationship between athlete burnout and objective sport performance. Consequently, we aimed to provide a first such examination. To do so, we recruited three samples. We used Sample 1 (n = 106: track and field athletes) to examine the predictive utility of athlete burnout on a single performance, Sample 2 (n = 181: swimmers) to examine whether the findings from Sample 1 can be replicated in a different sport, and Sample 3 (n = 169: track and field athletes) to examine the predictive utility of athlete burnout on peak performance in a three-month period. Finally, having captured three samples each assessing the athlete burnout-performance relationship, we also sought to quantify the combined effect across these samples using a relatively new analytical technique – mini meta-analysis. Results of correlational and regression analyses showed that in at least two of the three samples total burnout, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation each negatively predicted performance, whereas emotional and physical exhaustion was unrelated to performance. When we combined the samples, mini meta-analysis showed that total burnout, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation each displayed a small-to-medium negative and significant meta-correlation with performance. The findings suggest that certain athlete burnout symptoms may indeed have negative consequences for sport performance, and that this is the case when considering a single performance and peak performance over time

Examining the Mental and Physical Health Consequences of Burnout in Athletes

Burnout is a mental health problem that is becoming increasingly common in athletes. Beyond representing a health issue in itself, burnout may also increase the risk for other health consequences. A previous systematic review by our group has highlighted the potential mental and physical health outcomes that may be affected. Based on the findings of our review, in a sample of 267 athletes, we examined whether athlete burnout can predict depressive symptoms, sleep disruptions, physical symptoms, illness, and life satisfaction. We found that athlete burnout predicted increased depressive symptoms, while sleep disruptions and life satisfaction predicted increased athlete burnout. No relationships were found between burnout and physical symptoms and illness. Our findings suggest that athlete burnout can increase the risk for some health consequences, like depressive symptoms, while other health variables like sleep and life satisfaction may instead play a key role in the development of burnout itself. Coaches should be wary of this interplay and the risk for ill-health among their athletes

Physical and Mental Health Outcomes of Burnout in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Health is important to athletes’ wellbeing and performance in competition. Under intense training, athletes may be at risk for negative physical and mental health outcomes. Athlete burnout may represent a potential risk factor for such health outcomes. To further understand the importance of burnout to athletes’ health, in the presented study we provide the first systematic review of the association between athlete burnout and health, both mentally and physically. A literature search returned 54 studies (N = 13,976). A systematic review of the literature showed athlete burnout to be associated with both increases in negative mental health outcomes and declines in positive mental health outcomes. Evidence for an association between athlete burnout and physical health outcomes was mixed. There is a clear need for further research in this area, especially in relation to burnout and its association with physical health. Nevertheless, the present findings from this review show the importance of athlete burnout to health

A Multi-Study Examination of the Physical and Mental Health Consequences of Burnout in Athletes

Athletes in competitive sport regularly perform under pressure. Increased stress exposure from intense training and competition, however, can lead to mental and physical health difficulties. Burnout is an increasingly prevalent mental health problem in athletes that may also increase the risk for further adverse mental and physical health consequences. In a previous systematic review and meta-analysis, we highlighted the mental and physical health outcomes that may be affected. Building on the findings of our review, here we present the findings of two follow-up studies. In the first study, we have examined whether burnout can predict changes in depressive symptoms, sleep disruptions, life dissatisfaction, physical symptoms, and illness over time. To do so, we recruited a sample of 267 competitive athletes who completed measures at three timepoints over six months. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models showed that burnout predicted increased depressive symptoms. Sleep disruptions and life dissatisfaction, however, showed reciprocal effects predicting increased burnout. We found no relationships between burnout and physical symptoms and illness. In the second study, we examined links between burnout and biomarkers of hormonal and immune function dysregulation. To do so, we adopted an N-of-1 design where four athletes were recruited and saliva and intravenous blood were sampled over six-to-twelve months. We found that burnout predicted decreases in testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate, and immunoglobulin A. Together, our findings suggest that burnout can increase the risk for some health consequences, such as depressive symptoms, and it is possible that concomitant changes in biomarkers may provide the biological basis for such changes

Team Identification and Athlete burnout: Testing Longitudinal Serial Mediation via Perceived Support and Stress

Sport participation is associated with exposure to high-stress environments that can lead to the development of athlete burnout. Researchers have, therefore, shown great interest in identifying relevant coping resources. While perceived support has been shown to act as such a coping resource, its effectiveness is likely influenced by other social factors. Following the social identity approach, team identification and stress may be relevant factors. Thus, the present study employed a two-wave longitudinal design to test whether team identification predicts athlete burnout through a serial mediation of perceived support and stress. Online surveys were used to assess team identification, perceived support, stress, and athlete burnout in 176 athletes (Time 1) and 95 athletes (Time 2). Path analyses indicated that team identification did not predict athlete burnout directly or indirectly. However, perceived support significantly and negatively predicted athlete burnout via stress. The results suggest that perceived support may reduce stress, and in turn reduce the risk of burnout development in athletes, but the effects of team identification may occur via alternative pathways

Interventions to reduce burnout in students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Burnout is common among students and can negatively influence their motivation, performance, and wellbeing. However, there is currently little consensus regarding how to intervene effectively. Consequently, we provide the first systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing burnout in students. A systematic literature search returned 17 studies (10 randomized controlled trials and 7 quasi-experimental trials), which included 2,462 students from secondary and tertiary levels of education. These studies used a range of interventions (e.g., mindfulness, rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy). When the effects were aggregated across interventions, there was evidence for their effectiveness in reducing total burnout (g+ = 0.90, p = .02, 95% CI: [0.04, 1.75], k = 14). However, we also found evidence for moderation and nonsignificant effects when certain symptoms, designs, and intervention-types were examined. The strongest evidence for effectiveness was for randomized controlled trials, rational emotive behavior therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. This review provides initial evidence for the efficacy of interventions in reducing burnout in students, but we note that a more systematic examination of particular intervention types, especially those designed to target the organisational-level, would be useful, and to have the most impact in informing policy, so too are studies examining the cost effectiveness of such interventions