Physical Activity and the Link Among Stress, Burnout, and Well-Being in Athletic Trainers

Abstract

CONTEXT: Stress is a leading cause of burnout in working professionals, including athletic trainers (ATs). One consequence of burnout for ATs is lower perceptions of well-being, which have implications for mental and physical health. Physical activity is known to help reduce stress. Thus, activity may help reduce stress and burnout in ATs while enhancing well-being. OBJECTIVE: To examine a theoretically based mediating model whereby leisure time physical activity was linked to subjective well-being by way of ATs' perceived stress and burnout. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Online survey during the fall sports season. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Practicing certified ATs (N = 163; mean age = 30.5 ± 6.7 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Via a secure link, participants completed a survey that measured leisure time planned physical activity, work-related stress, burnout, and perceived life satisfaction. Latent variable analysis was used to examine the hypothesized mediating model. RESULTS: Minutes spent in moderate or vigorous activity were not associated with stress. Minutes spent walking were negatively associated with perceived stress (β = -0.18, P < .001). Stress was positively associated with exhaustion (β = 0.89, P < .001), negatively associated with personal accomplishment (β = -0.70, P < .001), and positively associated with depersonalization (β = 0.71, P < .001). Exhaustion was negatively associated (β = -0.57, P < .001) and personal accomplishment was positively associated (β = 0.31, P = .013) with well-being. Minutes spent walking were positively linked to well-being via stress and exhaustion. The negative relationship between stress and well-being was mediated by exhaustion and personal accomplishment. CONCLUSIONS: Leisure time walking was indirectly and positively linked to well-being. Walking could be a strategy to reduce stress and burnout in ATs and thereby improve well-being.