The mediating role of positive mental attitude in the relationship between mental toughness and athlete burnout: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Athlete burnout poses a significant threat to both wellbeing and performance. Mental toughness is recognized as a key protective factor. However, the mechanisms underlying its relationship with burnout remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to examine whether positive mental attitude-a component of health-related behaviours-mediates the relationship between mental toughness and athlete burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 456 athletes aged 18-30 years. The following Polish-adapted instruments were employed: the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ-P), the Health Behavior Inventory (IZZ)-Positive Mental Attitude subscale, and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Mediation analyses were performed using bootstrapping (5000 samples) to test the indirect effects of mental toughness (total score and subscales) on burnout (total and subscale scores) via positive mental attitude. Results: Positive mental attitude significantly mediated the relationship between overall mental toughness and total burnout. At the level of mental toughness subscales, mediation effects were observed for self-confidence and effectiveness in predicting emotional and physical exhaustion and reduced sense of accomplishment. In contrast, emotional control and task execution showed no significant indirect effects through positive mental attitude. No mediation was found for sport devaluation. Conclusion: Positive mental attitude partially explains the relationship between mental toughness and lower levels of burnout-particularly in the domains of emotional and physical exhaustion and reduced sense of accomplishment. Preventive and educational programs should focus on simultaneously enhancing key components of mental toughness (e.g., self-confidence, effectiveness) and fostering a positive mental attitude to support athletes' psychological resilience and long-term engagement in sport.