Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 54 8 2025 09 02 1731 1741 Jae-Yo Kim Sport and Healthcare, Namseoul University, Cheonan-si, Korea Sangmin Jeon Department of Media & Communication, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Korea Ho-Hyun Song Department of Physical Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Korea 2025 07 08 2025 09 02 Background: In elite Korean wrestling, a sport marked by cultural hierarchy and limited athlete participation, the coach–athlete relationship plays a critical role in shaping an athlete’s development and wellbeing. However, the psychological mechanisms linking the coach–athlete relationship to burnout remain underexplored. This study investigated the mediating role of athletic identity in the relationship between the coach–athlete relationship and athlete burnout among Korean male wrestlers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 369 officially registered Korean male wrestlers (20.37±4.01 years old) from high school, collegiate, and professional levels from whole Republic of Korea via online survey using Google Forms. Participants completed validated measures of the coach–athlete relationship, athletic identity, and athlete burnout. Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping procedures was used to assess direct and indirect effects. Results: The coach–athlete relationship significantly predicted athletic identity (β=0.705, P<0.001) but did not directly affect athlete burnout (β=–0.101, P=0.212). Athletic identity negatively predicted burnout (β=–0.635, P<0.001) and fully mediated the relationship between the coach–athlete relationship and burnout (indirect effect: β=–0.448, P=0.010). These results suggest that athletic identity serves as a protective psychological factor, mitigating burnout even when relational quality is high. Conclusion: While a positive coach–athlete relationship alone does not directly reduce burnout; it exerts an indirect protective effect by enhancing athletic identity. Strengthening athletic identity through supportive coaching may be key to reducing psychological exhaustion among male wrestlers in culturally hierarchical sports environments. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/39804 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/39804/8628