The Effect of Sport Life Satisfaction on Athlete Burnout: The Serial Mediating Role of Sport Commitment and Subjective Vitality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of sport life satisfaction on athlete burnout through the mediating roles of sport commitment and subjective vitality. Previous research indicates that athlete burnout is influenced not only by physical factors but also by psychological and motivational components. However, studies exploring the indirect effects of sport life satisfaction within this process remain limited. Accordingly, a conceptual model was developed based on the relevant literature and tested using Hayes’s (2022) Model 6 mediation approach. The research was conducted in accordance with ethical principles on a sample of 389 volunteer adolescent athletes. The validity and reliability of the measurement instruments were confirmed, and the model demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit indices. The findings revealed that sport life satisfaction has significant and positive effects on both sport commitment and subjective vitality, whereas its direct effect on athlete burnout was not significant. These results indicate that the influence of sport life satisfaction operates mainly through indirect pathways, with sport commitment and subjective vitality serving as key mediators. The study highlights the importance of enhancing athletes’ commitment and vitality levels as protective factors against burnout. Strengthening these psychological resources may contribute to athletes’ long-term well-being and sustainable performance.

Keywords

• Sport life satisfaction
• Athlete burnout
• Sport commitment
• Subjective vitality
• Mediating effect
• Structural equation modeling

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