Male and female GAA players may be protected from the mental effects of burnout if they have strong relationships with teammates, friends and others, according to a new study.

And personal coping skills may be more important in reducing the risks of physical symptoms experienced by a player which can be linked to emotional stress.

These physical symptoms can include fatigue, pain and gastrointestinal discomfort often in the absence of clear medical issues.

The study of 225 players carried out by the School of Psychology in UCC found those feeling emotional and physical exhaustion were more likely to report symptoms of depression.

However, those with stronger relationships and support networks appeared  to have a better buffer against this form of knock-on effect.

The demands of the sport and the toll on mental health were looked at in the study which found there is no single form of resilience that protects athletes from every aspect of burnout.

Participants who were invited to take part online were required to be over 18 years of age and actively playing Gaelic games at the time of completing the survey. They self-reported the responses to the questions.

They were between 18 and 59 years  while 149 were male and the others female.Those who responded included Gaelic football, hurling and camogie players who were involved at both club and intercounty level.

“Research on Gaelic games mental health remains scarce, and most studies of athlete burnout focus on professional or collegiate sport,” it pointed out.

The study also highlights how traditional Irish sports are played by individuals of all ages and despite holding amateur status, they train and compete at professional intensity while balancing education or employment under strong community expectation.

Athlete burnout can be “defined as a multidimensional syndrome comprising emotional and physical exhaustion , reducing sense of accomplishment and sport devaluation, where they athletes lose interest and desire, caring little for performance outcomes.”

While the physical and psychological benefits of sport are known, it also exposes people to competitive environments and psychological stressors with other pressures such as intense training , performance and injury risk.

Overtraining and perfectionism can heighten the risk of fatigue, underperformance and burnout.

According to the study findings, emotional and physical exhaustion appears to play a significant role in worsening depressive symptoms.

People experiencing greater levels of exhaustion were more likely to report depressive symptoms, even after accounting for other factors.

Exhaustion is also an important predictor of poorer psychological well-being.

The study also found that emotional and physical exhaustion were associated with lower relational resilience—the ability to draw strength and support from relationships.

Feeling a reduced sense of accomplishment was also linked with physical symptoms.

Becoming increasingly negative or detached from the sport was not significantly linked with depression, physical symptoms or resilience, the findings in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine said.

The research also found a different pattern when it came to physical symptoms of stress, such as tiredness and other physical complaints.

In that case the ability to cope with difficulties, adapt to challenges and manage stress — appeared to be more important.

 Players with stronger personal coping skills were better protected against the physical effects associated with feeling that they were no longer achieving or progressing in their sport.

The findings also pointed to differences between male and female players.

Females reported higher levels of both depressive and physical symptoms than male athletes.

Female players may be drawing more heavily on their coping skills and support networks, while also facing greater pressures within their sporting environment.

The study led by Leigh Huggard suggested that “tailored interventions which aim to strengthen personal resilience-based coping skills may be effective in reducing the impact of reduced sense of accomplishment on somatic symptoms in athletes.

“Similarly, interventions which aim to strengthen relational resilience, such as peer-support initiatives, may assist in reducing the impact of emotional and physical exhaustion on depressive symptoms.”

The study pointed out some limitations. It focused only on Gaelic Games players so the findings may not apply in exactly the same way to athletes in other sports.

The research also did not examine potentially important factors such as coaching styles, team culture, community expectations, injury history or how long players had been competing.

Some comparisons between different types of Gaelic sports were also limited by relatively small numbers of participants.

But the message for coaches and managers is to promote supportive team environments and show athletes practical tools to manage pressure.

The GAA has highlighted its Mental Health charter, a policy document that aims to help clubs develop a culture that supports and promotes positive mental health.

It “outlines a club culture that is inclusive and open and one that holds the following values clear”.

The Gaelic Players Association has previously emphasised adequate recovery time for players who face demands from intercounty and club teams to prevent burnout and injury.