Burnout Among University Students During Distance Learning Period due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Study at the University of Jordan

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic led to a deviation from classical face-to-face learning to distance learning. Few studies examined burnout among university students during the distance learning period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study that aims to investigate the prevalence of burnout among university students during distance learning and the factors associated with it. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at the University of Jordan. The modified version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for students (MBI-SS) was used to assess burnout. Results The total number of participants was 587 and the mean total of MBI-SS score was 63.34 +/- 8.85. Based on the MBI-SS definition, 6.6% of the study participants were found to have symptoms of burnout. Practicing hobbies, level of satisfaction with distance learning, and thoughts about quitting courses were significant predictors of burnout. Conclusion This study showed a relatively low prevalence of burnout among students during the distance learning period with several factors associated with it. As a result, identifying these factors will help both students and educational institutions to implement strategies that are needed for the primary and secondary prevention of burnout.