Academic burnout among undergraduate nursing students: A quantitative survey approach

Exposure of nursing students to constant work pressure, stress, and emotional turmoil during both clinical and theoretical sessions of nursing training often leads to academic burnout among them. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of academic burnout among undergraduate nursing students and the association of academic burnout with age, gender, year of nursing program, residence location, and relaxation technique practice.

A descriptive survey design was used, and data were collected from 266 undergraduate nursing students from Udupi Taluka, South India. Baseline information was collected through a demographic proforma, and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Students was used for assessing academic burnout. A stratified proportionate sampling technique was used to select the study sample. The data were collected from April 2021 to May 2021. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.

The study revealed that most of the participants had high levels of academic burnout (163, 61.7%), emotional exhaustion (165, 62%), and disengagement (173, 65%). Moreover, academic burnout was significantly associated with age (χ²= 8.669, P = 0.012) and relaxation technique practice (χ²= 9.263, P = 0.002). Additionally, disengagement was significantly associated with gender (χ²= 9.956, P = 0.002), residence location (χ²= 7.032, P = 0.027), and relaxation technique practice (χ²= 8.729, P = 0.003).

Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that the faculty and administrators of nursing institutes must incorporate strategies for the prevention or reduction of academic burnout in the nursing curriculum.