Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Student “burnout” as a mediator of the stress-outcome relationship

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One hundred thirty-six graduate social work students participated in a questionnaire study designed to test the mediating influence of student burnout (strain) in the impact of student-specific stress on negative consequences. Consistent with the proposed stress→strain (burnout)→outcome model, burnout was significantly related to each of three stress indicators and to two outcome measures (intention to quit school and physical and psychological symptoms). In five of six tests, thedirect stress-to-outcome relationship was small and nonsignificant, consistent with the crucial mediating role of burnout. Contrary to previous model tests involving parenting, work, and student stress, there was only very limited evidence for a buffering influence of social support. Implications were drawn for stress theory and for policy focusing on assessment of student burnout and benefits arising from its alleviation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astin, A. W. (1984, July). Student involvement: A development theory for higher education.Journal of College Student Personnel, pp. 297–308.

  • Coyne, J. C., and Bolger, N. (1990). Doing without social support as an explanatory concept.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 9: 148–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherniss, C. (1980).Staff Burnout: Job Stress in the Human Services. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouter, A. C. (1984). Spillover from family to work: The neglected side of the workfamily interface.Human Relations 37: 425–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1977).SCL-90-R Administration, Scoring, and Procedures Manual, 1st ed. Baltimore: Clinical Psychometric Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyk, P. A. H. (1987). Graduate student management of family and academic roles.Family Relations 36: 329–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etzion, D. (1984). Moderating effect of social support on the stress-burnout relationship.Journal of Applied Psychology 69: 615–622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortune, A. E. (1987). Multiple roles, stress, and well-being among MSW students.Journal of Social Work Education 23: 81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, L. A., and Holahan, C. K. (1982). Conflicts between student/professional, parental, and self-development roles: A comparison of high and low effective copers.Human Relations 35: 635–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jemmott, J. B., and Magloire, K. (1988). Academic stress, social support, and secretory immunoglobulin A.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 55: 803–810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, A., Coyne, J., Schaefer, C., and Lazarus, R. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts versus major life events.Journal of Behavioral Medicine 4: 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, R. F., and Voydanoff, P. (1985). Work/family role strain among employed parents.Family Relations 34: 367–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, C. F., and Dorfman, L. T. (1983). Satisfaction and role strain among middle-aged and older reentry women students.Educational Gerontology 9: 15–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeske, G. F., and Koeske, R. D. (1989a). Construct validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: A critical review and reconceptualization.Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 25: 131–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeske, G. F., and Koeske, R. D. (1989b). Work load and burnout: Can social support and perceived accomplishment help?Social Work 34: 243–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeske, R. D., and Koeske, G. F. (1989c). Working and non-working students: Roles, support, and well-being.Journal of Social Work Education 25: 244–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeske, G. F., and Koeske, R. D. (1990). The buffering effect of social support on negative consequences of parenting stress.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 60: 440–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeske, G. F., and Koeske, R. D. (in press). A preliminary test of a stress-strain-outcome model for reconceptualizing the burnout phenomenon.Journal of Social Service Research.

  • Kramer, H., Mathews, G., and Endias, R. (1987). Comparative stress levels in part-time and full-time social work programs.Journal of Social Work Education 23: 74–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., and Launier, R. (1978). Stress-related transactions between person and environment. In L. A. Pervin and M. Lewis (eds.),Internal and External Determinants of Behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesko, W. A., and Summerfield, L. (1989). Academic stress and health changes in female college students.Health Education 20: 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, I., and Stokes, J. P. (1989). Dispositional approach to job satisfaction: Role of negative affectivity.Journal of Applied Psychology 74: 752–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., and Jackson, S. E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout.Journal of Occupational Behavior 2: 99–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach, C., and Jackson, S. E. (1984). Burnout in organizational settings. In S. Oskamp (ed.),Applied Social Psychology Annual: Vol. 5. Applications in Organizational Settings, pp. 133–153. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Motowidlo, S. J., Packard, J. S., and Manning, M. R. (1986). Occupational stress: Its causes and consequences for job performance.Journal of Applied Psychology 71: 618–629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, Y., Finaly-Neumann, E., and Reichel, A. (1990). Determinants and consequences of students' burnout in universities.Journal of Higher Education 61: 20–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, M. D. (1990). Social support and personal characteristics: A developmental and interactional perspective.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 9: 54–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paine, W. S. (1982).Job Stress and Burnout: Research, Theory, and Intervention Perspectives. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, R. L., and Jones, J. G. (1987). Measurement and methodological issues in social support. In S. V. Kasl and C. L. Cooper (eds.),Stress and Health: Issues in Research Methodology, pp. 167–205. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., and Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 19: 2–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pines, A. M., and Aronson, E. (1981).Burnout. From Tedium to Personal Growth. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1990). Parallels in the study of social support and social strain.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 9: 118–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Small, S. A., and Riley, D. (1990). Toward a multidimensional assessment of work spillover into family life.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52: 51–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E. (1987). Method variance as an artifact in self-reported affect and perceptions at work: Myth or significant problem?Journal of Applied Psychology 72: 438–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1982). Conceptual, methodological and theoretical problems in studying social support as a buffer against life stress.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 23: 145–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., and Clark, L. A. (1984). Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states.Psychological Bulletin 96: 465–490.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, 2217 Cathedral of Learning, 15260, Pittsburgh, PA

    Gary F. Koeske

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg

    Randi Daimon Koeske

Authors
  1. Gary F. Koeske
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Randi Daimon Koeske
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koeske, G.F., Koeske, R.D. Student “burnout” as a mediator of the stress-outcome relationship. Res High Educ 32, 415–431 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992184

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992184

Keywords

Search

Navigation