The Relationship between the Big Five Personality Traits and Burnout in South African University Students

Abstract

Research on burnout has tended to explore the organisational factors associated with this condition. However, an important factor that is often overlooked is the relationship between burnout and personality. We explored this relationship in South African university students. The participants completed the Basic Traits Inventory — Short, the Maslach Burnout Inventory — Student Survey and a biographical questionnaire. The results revealed several significant relationships between personality traits and burnout with personality explaining a sizeable degree of variance in burnout. Neuroticism, Extroversion and Conscientiousness demonstrated a relationship with all three burnout constructs (emotional exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy). Personality traits explained 13% of the variance in emotional exhaustion, 12.8% of the variance in cynicism and 24.8% of the variance in professional efficacy.

Predictors of student burnout and engagement among university students

“…In South Africa a few studies have been done on student burnout and student engagement (Gauché, 2006;Grobbelaar, Malan, Steyn & Ellis, 2010;Grobbelaar, Malan, Steyn & Ellis, 2011;Morgan & De Bruin, 2010;Mostert, Pienaar, Gauché & Jackson, 2007;Pienaar & Sieberhagen, 2005;Strydom, Kuh & Mentz, 2010). However, none of these studies focused on core self-eval uation traits (self-esteem and self-efficacy), career decision-making difficulties or social support as predic tors of student burnout and engagement.…”

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Burnout Levels Among Architecture Students

“…Schaufeli et al have developed a student version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS) (Schaufeli et al 2002). Many studies have used this scale to examine student's burnout levels (Esteve, 2003;Breso et al, 2010;Gan and Shang, 2007;Hu and Schaufeli, 2009;Jia et al, 2009;Lee et al 2010;Lingard, 2007;Morgan, B., 2008;Zhang et al 2007;Salanova et al, 2009).…”

Burnout in prospective elementary school teachers: Is it related to reasons for choosing the elementary school teaching major, beliefs about the teaching career and satisfaction with the choice?

“…Studies have revealed that self-efficacy (Fives et al, 2007;Yang, 2004;Yang and Farn, 2005) and social support (Gündüz et al, 2012;Yang, 2004;Yang and Farn, 2005) are significant variables that predict less burnout among students, indicating the more social support they receive and the more they feel selfefficacious the less burnout they have. Particular demographic characteristics of students were also related to school burnout (Morgan and De Bruin, 2010). For Dündar 111…”

“…academic workload, exams,adjustment to school environment, career concerns, etc. (Mehdinezhad, 2011;Morgan and De Bruin, 2010). Studies have revealed that self-efficacy (Fives et al, 2007;Yang, 2004;Yang and Farn, 2005) and social support (Gündüz et al, 2012;Yang, 2004;Yang and Farn, 2005) are significant variables that predict less burnout among students, indicating the more social support they receive and the more they feel selfefficacious the less burnout they have.…”