The effect of study‐related burnout on student perceptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the frequency of study‐related burnout (SRB) among Finnish university students. In addition, the students' perceptions concerning the teaching‐learning environment (TLE) and their personal achievement motivation (AM) were explored, and the correlation between perceived SRB and the TLE and AM components was revealed. Finally, business students and general university students were compared in terms of the aforementioned variables. Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected in the spring of 2009 based on a nationwide survey of nine Finnish universities ( n =3,031). Findings – Data analysis revealed that 45 percent of all respondents had an increased risk of burnout; while as many as 19 percent had an obviously increased risk. Regarding the frequency of SRB, there was no statistical difference between business students and general students. Using principal component analysis (PCA), 12 internally reliable pedagogical components of the TLE related to SRB were determined. Moreover, differences in the TLE and AM perceptions of business students and general students were revealed. However, the role of personal AM – such as studying abilities, study success and appreciation of studies – appeared to have the greatest effect on students' well‐being. Research limitations/implications – In the data analyzed, women represent 80 percent of participants, but in Finland, only 53 percent of university students are women. The number of business students (52) that participated in the study was low; thus, far‐reaching generalizations cannot be made. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates that SRB causes drastic deterioration in students' cognitive appraisals of their AM. Perhaps, here lies the most insidious effect of SRB, because students suffering from SRB lose their self‐confidence in coping with study demands. Teachers should be able to help students seeking professional help for stress‐related problems. The rather high frequency of SRB also requires further remedies. Stress‐management techniques have proven effective in reducing stress‐related health symptoms.