University students’ burnout profiles and their relation to creativity and multilingualism

Abstract

The present study aims to identify burnout profiles among Russian-speaking university students (n = 509) and their relation to creativity and multilingualism. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, Reisman Diagnostic Creativity Assessment, and Multilingual and Multicultural Experience Questionnaire were used to measure burnout, creativity, and language/cultural background, respectively. Five burnout profiles were identified through latent profile analysis, three consistent and two inconsistent. Consistent profiles with similar levels of all burnout dimensions (High, Average, Low burnout) showed a linear relation to creativity: the higher the burnout level, the lower the creativity level was. The inconsistent Cynic-exhausted-efficacious profile demonstrated exceptionally high scores on multilingualism compared to all burnout profiles and creativity scores comparable to low and average burnout profiles. The inconsistent Inefficacious profile was negligibly small compared to those reported in the literature, so no conclusions can be drawn regarding creativity and multilingualism in this profile. The results are considered within the framework of emotional burnout and plurilingual creativity research.