Emotion regulation, coping strategies, and burnout among Chinese competitive athletes: a mixed-methods study

This mixed-methods study explored the relationships between emotion regulation, coping strategies, and burnout among 286 Chinese competitive athletes (aged 18-28, 54% female) from diverse sports and competition levels across China. Quantitative data, collected via the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Brief COPE Inventory, and Reduced Exhaustion Depression and Reduced Accomplishment Scale, revealed that emotional clarity and repair, alongside adaptive coping strategies (e.g., positive reframing, emotional support), were negatively associated with burnout, while maladaptive strategies (e.g., denial, self-blame) were positively linked to burnout. Mediation analyses indicated that coping strategies, such as positive reframing and denial, partially mediated the emotion regulation-burnout relationship. Qualitative interviews with 23 athletes identified four themes: (1) Emotion Regulation as a Dynamic Process, (2) The Interplay of Coping Strategies, (3) The Lived Experience of Burnout, and (4) The Social Construction of Resilience and Vulnerability. These findings highlight the complex interplay of emotion regulation, coping, and social support in mitigating burnout, suggesting that interventions should enhance adaptive strategies and foster supportive environments to promote athlete well-being.