Protective factors against school burnout symptoms in Finnish adolescents

Abstract

Burnout rates among adolescents have risen dramatically over the last decades. It is recognised by ICD-11 but is not categorized as a diagnosis. Most of the studies concerning burnout have focused on adults and work life, neglecting the fact that adolescents can also experience burnout at school. Therefore, it is important to investigate which internal and contextual factors are potentially relevant for protecting against the development of burnout during adolescence. This study examined coping, resilience, and school atmosphere as predictors for burnout symptoms in adolescents. Upper secondary school students around Finland, aged 15–19 (N = 284, M = 16.92) participated in the study by filling out a questionnaire. Results showed that coping strategies focusing on problem solving and seeking social support were associated with less burnout symptoms. A positive school atmosphere, especially instilling meaning in students, showed a similar relationship to burnout. Resilience was unexpectedly associated with more symptoms of burnout. Furthermore, females showed higher rates of burnout symptoms than males. These findings suggest that teaching suitable coping strategies and focusing on creating a meaningful school atmosphere could provide means for preventing burnout and school-related stress in adolescents. However, longitudinal or intervention studies are needed to confirm the causal relationships between these factors.