Burnout and engagement in university students: relationships with morningness-eveningness preferences, average sleep length and social jetlag

Abstract

Academic burnout and engagement are critical factors in student success, school attendance and dropout. It is important to determine the variables associated with burnout and engagement to develop university students and their competencies. Therefore, the current study aims to elucidate the association of morningness-eveningness preferences, average sleep length (ASL) and social jetlag (SJL) with burnout and engagement in university students. The sample was composed of 270 university students. The composite scale of morningness (CSM), the Maslach burnout inventory-student scale, student engagement scale and a questionnaire were utilized. CSM total score was found to correlate with both burnout and engagement sub-domains significantly. In addition, CSM total score was a significant predictor in all burnout and engagement models. ASL was a significant predictor of exhaustion and cynicism while SJL was significant predictor of efficacy. Both ASL and SJL were significant predictors of silent in-class behaviours sub-domain of engagement. In sum, CSM total score was found to be the most significant predictor of both burnout and engagement compared to other study variables. Considering the relationships of CSM total score with burnout and engagement sub-dimensions, eveningness can be treated as an important risk factor for burnout and engagement in the context of university students.