The causal model of elite athletes' burnout based on athletes' perfectionism during the Covid-19: the mediating role of coaching style

With the prevalence of Covid-19, competitive athletes are required to continually organize and pursue their goals and performance standards for optimal adaptation to these conditions. In such stressful situations, perfectionist athletes may inevitably face many challenges in organizing and pursuing performance goals; therefore, the present study looking for answersthese two questions. First, what is the state of burnout of perfectionist athletes in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic? Second, how does the coaching style of the coach effect the athlete’s burnout, especially perfectionists? In this cross-sectional study, 259 elite participated and completed scales of perfectionism, burnout and coaching behaviors. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that the control behaviors of coaches and dimensions of perfectionism positively predict athletes' burnout, the results also showed that the interpersonal behaviors of coaches are a mediating factor in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout of athletes. The results indicate that during the covid 19, Athletes who are less able to organize performance standards and expectations of themselves and others, and who are more committed to meeting external demands, are at risk of burnout. In addition, when coaches have controlling behavioral styles in these situations, athletes are more likely to become burnout, especially perfectionist athletes.