The social-psychological antecedents of burnout among elite dancers: A longitudinal test of Basic Needs Theory

Previous research grounded in the basic needs theory (BNT), a mini-theory in the self-determination theory (SDT) framework (Deci and Ryan, 2000), points to the role of diminished autonomy, competence and relatedness satisfaction in the manifestation of burnout among athletes. To date, these investigations of the motivation-related predictors of burnout have been marked by an over-reliance on cross- sectional research designs and have neglected to consider the role of the social environment. Moreover, a paucity of research has considered the motivation-related antecedents of indicators of compromised well-being (e.g., burnout) among dancers. This study examined whether changes in vocational dancers’ autonomy, competence and relatedness satisfaction mediated the relationships between changes in the dancers’ perceived autonomy support and burnout over a year of fulltime training. A questionnaire package tapping the variables of interest was completed by 219 vocational dancers at three time points over a 36-week period. Results supported the tenets of BNT with respect to the social-psychological predictors of changes in dancers’ burnout over the dance school year. SEM indicated that the observed decreases in the dancers’ perceptions of autonomy support positively predicted observed decreases in autonomy and relatedness satisfaction and changes in competence need satisfaction that occurred over the school year. In turn, increases in the dancers’ global burnout were negatively predicted by decreases in autonomy and relatedness satisfaction and changes in competence need satisfaction. The three basic needs fully mediated the ‘autonomy support – global burnout’ relationship. When the sub-dimensions of burnout were examined independently, there were inconsistencies in the salience of each basic need. Taken in their totality, findings indicate that promoting and sustaining autonomy supportive training environments in the vocational dance milieu may help to reduce the prevalence of burnout among dancers.