Personal, Work-, and Client-Related Burnout Within Strength and Conditioning Coaches and Personal Trainers

Abstract

Snarr, RL and Beasley, VL. Personal, work-, and client-related burnout within strength and conditioning coaches and personal trainers. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): e31-e40, 2022-The purpose of this investigation was to examine the prevalence and influencing factors of personal, work-related, and client-related burnout within strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) and personal trainers (PTs). Two hundred fifty-six SCCs (n = 141) and PTs (n = 115) completed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), a 19-item survey, measuring 3 subscales of personal, work-related, and client-related burnout. Information regarding other burnout-related factors (i.e., job satisfaction, social support, fitness level, and mental toughness) was solicited through single-item or multiple-item questionnaires. Correlational analyses and independent t-tests were conducted to assess associations and between-group differences between burnout and all continuous factors. Seventy-one subjects completed the survey before March 2020; after which, a worldwide pandemic (i.e., COVID-19) occurred possibly affecting employment workloads and work-related stress. Thus, post hoc analyses were conducted to assess differences in burnout scores pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19. Using a CBI subscale cutoff score of ≥50, fitness professionals reported 32.8% of personal burnout, 28.5% work-related burnout, and 18.0% client-related burnout. Factored by occupation, SCCs reported 32.6% personal burnout, 27.7% work-related burnout, and 18.4% client-related burnout. Within PTs, 33.0% reported personal burnout, 29.6% reported work-related burnout, and 17.4% reported client-related burnout. Higher levels of burnout, across all scales, were observed in those who were PTs, women, unmarried, living alone, would not choose to be a fitness professional again, and took the survey post-COVID as compared to their respective counterparts. Findings suggest that fitness professionals are not exempt from the stressors associated with personal and occupational burnout. Strength and conditioning coaches and PTs may reduce the risk of burnout by increasing social support, continuing education, and allowing for personal-care time with the intention of buffering these factors.