Risk and Protective Factors for Academic Burnout: The Search for Effective Psychological Help for Students

Abstract

Introduction: Students are increasingly facing psychological problems and experiencing academic burnout. In order to design effective psychological help for students, it is necessary to identify risk factors (e.g., health symptoms) and protective factors (e.g., personal and study-related resources) against academic burnout. The aim of this study was to determine the role of selected psychological factors, including risk factors and protective factors, in academic burnout. Material and methods: The study involved 350 students of the Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, (263 women, 82 men, and 5 non-binary people), ranging in age from 17 to 53 years (M = 22.84, SD = 4.65). A set of self-report questionnaires was used to examine students' psychological resources (e.g., vitality, passion for studying) and health symptoms (e.g., somatic symptoms). The most significant psychological factors associated with academic burnout were identified using regression analysis. Using qualitative questions, factors that positively and negatively affect students' subjective well-being in college were analysed. Results: There was a high prevalence of positive screening results for symptoms of anxiety (57.14%) and depression (45.43%). Almost all of the risk factors analysed, including somatic complaints, stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms, were associated with higher levels of academic burnout. In contrast, protective factors against burnout, including vitality, resilience, general academic self-efficacy, and harmonious passion for studying, were associated with lower levels of academic burnout. The regression analysis showed that harmonious passion for studying was the most significant predictor of low levels of academic burnout. Conclusions: The study highlighted the importance of harmonious passion for the prevention of academic burnout and pointed to the necessity of conducting regular (screening) studies of mental and somatic health, which seems important for creating effective ways to prevent academic burnout in students.