Examining the Relationship of Personality and Burnout in College Students: The Role of Academic Motivation

Abstract

This study extends the literature on burnout by examining the relationship of personality, academic motivation, and burnout among college students. Previous literatures had suggested bivariate links between personality and burnout, personality and academic motivation, and academic motivation and burnout. Integrating these variables together, the author hypothesized that personality and burnout are associated and this association is mediated by academic motivation. Results of bivariate correlations using data from 150 college students were consistent with the literature and the author’s hypotheses. However, path analyses using the same data indicated that only conscientiousness has a significant link to a burnout dimension and no mediation was found. Furthermore, direct effects from academic motivation to burnout and indirect effects of personality to burnout via academic motivation were observed. The findings were discussed in relation to the self-determination theory (SDT) and its implication to instruction and assessment.