Prevalence and Psychosocial Determinants of Burnout Among Medical Students and Staff at Majmaah University

Abstract

Background and Aims: Burnout is a widely recognized phenomenon characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This study assesses the prevalence and psychosocial determinants of burnout among students and staff at Majmaah University, Majmaah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. Data were collected from 155 students and 66 staff members from various demographics, including age, gender, academic year, specialty, and marital status, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The methodology involved descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to explore the relationships between burnout dimensions and demographic factors. Results: Among students, 34.2% (53 students) experienced high burnout, 32.3% (50 students) moderate, and 33.5% (52 students) low, with medical students facing the highest levels. Significant predictors of burnout included gender (female students showing higher burnout) and academic year (sixth-year students had significantly higher burnout levels). Among staff, 31.8% (21 staff members) reported high burnout, 34.8% (23 staff members) moderate burnout, and 33.4% (22 staff members) low burnout, with significantly higher burnout observed in female staff and those with lower educational backgrounds. Logistic regression revealed that emotional exhaustion and cynicism were the strongest contributors to burnout scores in both groups. Conclusions: Burnout is highly prevalent among students and staff at Majmaah University, particularly among medical students and female participants. Targeted interventions, such as stress management programs, counseling, and workload adjustments, are urgently needed to improve well-being and performance.

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