Burnout prevention interventions for higher education students: A review and meta-analysis

Recent research reveals concerning rates of burnout in students, with worrisome consequences. Therefore, interventions to prevent burnout symptoms are desirable. This review aims at exploring existing burnout prevention interventions for higher education students and their effectiveness. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to create an overview of existing interventions. To be eligible for this review, a study must be an intervention study, it must be aimed at (a component of) burnout prevention or stress prevention/reduction, it must include a student population and it must be written in English, Dutch or Greek language. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were eligible. Finally, ten studies where included in the qualitative analysis. Qualitative analysis revealed that the included interventions are useful in stress source recognition, stress reduction and increasing relaxation. Therefore, they are seen as helpful in preventing burnout in students. Five of the...Show moreRecent research reveals concerning rates of burnout in students, with worrisome consequences. Therefore, interventions to prevent burnout symptoms are desirable. This review aims at exploring existing burnout prevention interventions for higher education students and their effectiveness. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to create an overview of existing interventions. To be eligible for this review, a study must be an intervention study, it must be aimed at (a component of) burnout prevention or stress prevention/reduction, it must include a student population and it must be written in English, Dutch or Greek language. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were eligible. Finally, ten studies where included in the qualitative analysis. Qualitative analysis revealed that the included interventions are useful in stress source recognition, stress reduction and increasing relaxation. Therefore, they are seen as helpful in preventing burnout in students. Five of the included studies (239 participants in total) contained enough data to be included in the meta-analysis. The quantitative analysis revealed that the included interventions significantly reduce levels of stress (Hedges’ g intervention-control comparison studies: 0.544; pre-post comparison studies: 0.692), but did not significantly reduce burnout symptoms (Hedges’ g omnibus intervention-control comparison studies: 0.127; focused intervention-control comparison studies: 0.110; omnibus pre-post comparison studies: 0.040; focused pre-post comparison studies: -0.049). In conclusion, results from this review and meta-analysis provide support that effective stress reduction interventions for students exist. However, these interventions are not effective in reducing burnout symptoms. Equalization and operationalization of terms and constructs in this area of research is needed.Show less

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Burnout prevention interventions for higher education students: A review and meta-analysis