Burnout in Esports: An Item Response Theory Examination of the Athlete Burnout Scale.

Athlete burnout is increasingly reported as impacting esports players' wellbeing and performance. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Athlete Burnout Scale (ABO-S) in esports. The ABO-S assesses three burnout dimensions: physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and negative feelings toward sport. The study focused on item discrimination and difficulty parameters to establish optimal raw cut-off scores indicating levels of burnout risk. Participants were 453 adult esports players proficient in English, ranked in the top 40% of one of seven major esports. The sample included 372 males, 74 females, and seven nonbinary participants from 66 countries. Item Response Theory was used to assess the ABO-S's psychometric properties. The GRM provided a superior fit, with all but one item showing sufficient discrimination and difficulty levels. Items reflecting weariness, lacking energy, and physical exhaustion demonstrated high levels of information and reliability across a range of burnout levels. A provisional diagnostic cut-off score of ≥ 63 (+2 SD) was established, identifying 2% of participants at high burnout risk. Additional raw score thresholds of ≥ 47 (+0.5 SD) and 52 (+1 SD) were also identified. The ABO-S is a robust instrument for assessing burnout in esports players, with specific items effectively identifying varying levels of burnout. The establishment of cut-off scores aids in identifying players at high risk of burnout, contributing to better support and intervention strategies in the esports community. These findings further the understanding of burnout in esports, highlighting the scale's utility in monitoring and addressing player wellbeing.