A model of stress and burnout in collegiate coaches: effects of gender and time of season.

This investigation examined a model of stress and burnout in male (n = 131) and female (n = 118) collegiate head baseball and softball coaches. The model hypothesized that personal/situational variables of coaching issues, social support, hardiness, gender, and win/loss record predict stress appraisal which, in turn, predicts burnout. A preliminary gender by time of season repeated measures analysis indicated significant main effects for gender and time. Path analyses were conducted to test the model separately for males and females at the end of the season only. Results partially supported the model: Both male and female coaches higher in coaching issues and lower in hardiness were higher in perceived stress, and males lower in social support satisfaction were higher in perceived stress. Both male and female coaches' stress appraisal was predictive of all burnout components. The coaches were classified as suffering from moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion and low to moderate levels of depersonalization and personal accomplishment.