The Relationships Between Perceived Stress, Burnout, and Work-Family Conflict Among Athletic Trainers Working in Collegiate Sport

Athletic trainers in collegiate sport experience burnout and work family conflict, however the relationship with perceived stress in this setting has yet to be explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that perceived stress has on self-reported measures of burnout and work family conflict. Secondarily, the study aims to better understand if subdivision (DI, DII, DIII) within the NCAA impacts perceived stress, burnout, or work family conflict. A web-based cross-sectional survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was utilized to collect data on collegiate athletic trainers’ perceptions of stress, burnout, and work family conflict as well as demographics relevant to the study. Participants reported moderate stress (19.02 ± 6.66), and moderate burnout (61.59 ± 12.55) with a mean score on the work family conflict scale of 39.50 (± 8.88). There was no significant difference of reported perceived stress between the divisions. Significant differences (𝒳2[2]=7.54, p=.023) were observed between divisions within the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). However, within group differences via pairwise comparisons yielded significant differences only between Division III and II (p=.019). Significant differences were also observed on the work family conflict scale between divisions, pairwise comparisons yield significant differences (𝒳2[2]=6.74, p=.034) between Division II and III (p=.047). Higher levels of perceived stress predicted higher levels of burnout and lower levels of work family conflict within the participants. Our findings demonstrate that when an athletic trainer perceives stress, they are also likely to experience burnout but not necessarily work family conflict. The unlikely finding between perceived stress and work family conflict warrants more investigation.