Prevalence of burnout syndrome and its contributing factors among students

Abstract

Introduction Burnout syndrome among students is a growing public health concern. It is characterized by a feeling of emotional exhaustion, cynicism toward learning, and decreased academic performance. Medical students are particularly under pressure due to their academic workload and the emotional demands of clinical work. Prolonged academic stress and inadequate coping mechanisms may negatively affect students’ mental health, quality of life, and future professional performance. There is no clear information in Armenia on how prevalent the syndrome is among students, especially in terms of comparing medical and other fields of study, which highlights the need for further research in this area. Aim of the study To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among YSMU (Yerevan State Medical University) and YSU (Yerevan State University) students and to consider the impact of possible contributing academic, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors. Material and methods Using online questionnaires, a survey was conducted among 160 students, 100 of whom were from YSMU and 60 from YSU. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), which evaluates emotionnal exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy on a 6-point frequency scale. The other part of the questionnaire included questions on the level of academic stress, duration and quality of sleep, work engagement, physical activity, screen time, and perceived social support. Results Among YSMU students, the mean score for emotional exhaustion on the 6-point MBI-SS scale was 3.91, indicating a high level. Cynicism was moderate – an average of 2.02, while academic efficiency remained quite high - an average of 4.54. It is noteworthy that nightly sleep in this group was less than 6 hours in 49% of the students. Among YSU, the mean emotional exhaustion score was 3.48, cynicism towards lessons was moderate – an average of 2.44, and academic efficiency was also high – an average of 4.42. In general, the syndrome was observed almost equally among YSU and YSMU students, but it was more pronounced in the case of YSMU students, especially with emotional exhaustion. Conclusion Burnout syndrome is moderately prevalent among students at both universities and is thought to be closely related to academic workload, stress, and insufficient sleep. The high rate of emotional exhaustion among medical students is likely related to the more demanding nature of medical education. Regular screenings by universities to assess burnout and stress levels, as well as education on stress management and sleep hygiene, may reduce the risk of developing burnout and improve academic performance.