Young, elite players of team sports such as cricket, netball and hockey are more likely to be susceptible to crippling self-criticism, fear of failure and "burnout" than older elite players.

This finding is based on a study by Queensland University of Technology postgraduate psychology student Angela Christie who surveyed 84 male and female semi-elite and elite athletes, aged 18 to 33, playing at state to international levels.

Ms Christie found younger players (aged 18-25), had higher levels of "dysfunctional perfectionism" than elite participants (aged 25-33).

"The survey results showed that younger athletes were more likely to hold inflexibly high standards. If they don't meet their own standards, they tend to criticise themselves harshly," Ms Christie said.

Research supervisor, Professor Kathryn Gow from QUT's School of Psychology and Counselling, said Ms Christie's research made an important contribution to our understanding of the pressure on athletes.

Ms Christie said the findings could potentially shed light on recent discussion that elite sportspeople had lost the ethos of sport for enjoyment.

"Society expects a lot from elite athletes, and so, for some losing isn't an option," she said.

"These younger athletes were more likely to gauge their self-worth from their performance and consequently had a greater fear of failure and strove to avoid errors more than more experienced athletes in the 25 to 33 age range.

"More research is needed to ascertain whether younger athletes will carry these qualities through to the elite level or whether the older athletes have learned to 'lighten up' along the way."

Ms Christie's study aimed to identify whether adaptive coping reduced the likelihood of "burnout" and if maladaptive coping increased the likelihood of burnout.

Burnout is the result of an athlete's inability to cope or to adapt to high levels of anxiety and stress when faced with long, stressful periods during competitions and matches.

"It is a real possibility when a person's life solely revolves around competitive sport at a high level," Ms Christie said.

"Players with burnout can experience sleep disturbances, illness, and increased propensity for injury, as well as emotional depletion, agitation, mood swings and failure to experience positive emotions.

"With regards to their sport, burnout can lead to a reduction in self-determination and lowered drive for achievement and goals for higher selection honours.

"Many just withdraw from the sport altogether and some end up hating it."

Ms Christie said it was important that elite players had a well-balanced self-concept in which they viewed themselves, not only as highly competent athletes, but as competent members of society. "

Overall, the findings point to the need for athletes to engage in meaningful activities outside sport."