Exhausted Minds, Passionate Hearts: The Silent Struggle of Academic Burnout
https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.asci4106
Keywords:
Academic Anxiety; Academic Stress; Burnout; Higher Education; Teaching
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Abstract
Burnout, characterized by chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, has become an increasingly recognized issue in academia, particularly within higher education institutions where teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities often overlap. This study investigates the prevalence, causes, and impact of burnout among 729 academic staff members at Kolej Poly-Tech Mara (KPTM) Sdn. Bhd. Utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) along with additional data on workload, institutional support, and individual coping strategies, the research provides an in-depth analysis of burnout within the institution. The findings identify excessive workload, administrative burdens, and inadequate support systems as the primary drivers of burnout. Additionally, the study highlights the adverse effects of burnout on both personal well-being and professional effectiveness, with many staff reporting moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Based on these insights, the study proposes solutions such as more equitable workload distribution, enhanced wellness programs, and the establishment of a more supportive work environment. By implementing these strategies, KPTM can alleviate burnout, improve staff well-being, and enhance overall institutional performance.
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References
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Sestili, C., Cianfanelli, S., Scalingi, S., Del Cimmuto, A., De Sio, S., Villari, P., De Giusti, M., & La Torre, G. (2018). Reliability and use of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in Italian sample of University Professors. European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl_4). https://doi.org/10.1093/EURPUB/CKY218.272
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Shin, J. C., & Jung, J. (2014). Academics job satisfaction and job stress across countries in the changing academic environments. Higher Education, 67(5), 603–620. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10734-013-9668-Y
Springer, A., & Werner, I. (2020). Burnout Among Academics: An Empirical Study on the Universities of Poland. Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, 14(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52294-0_5
Watts, J., & Robertson, N. (2011). Burnout in university teaching staff: A systematic literature review. Educational Research, 53(1), 33–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2011.552235
YOLERİ, S. (2012). Determining The Factors That Affect Burnout And Job Satisfaction Among Academicians: A Sample Application On The Hitit University. Journal of Turkish Studies, Volume 7 Issue 4-I(7), 589–600. https://doi.org/10.7827/TURKISHSTUDIES.3973
Zhong, J., You, J., Gan, Y., Zhang, Y., Lu, C., & Wang, H. (2009). Job stress, burnout, depression symptoms, and physical health among chinese university teachers. Psychological Reports, 105(3), 1248–1254. https://doi.org/10.2466/PR0.105.F.1248-1254
Asfahani, A. M. (2024). Link between job burnout antecedents and consequences: an empirical study on higher education faculty members in the Saudi context. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 16(2), 629–649. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-03-2023-0125/FULL/HTML
Bezuidenhout, A., & Cilliers, F. (2011). Age, burnout, work engagement and sense of coherence in female academics at two South African universities. South African Journal of Labour Relations.
Bibi Hamzah, F., Mahmod, R., Hafiza Abd Samad, N., Juanita Zainuddin, A., Hafiza Haron, N., Asiah Wan Muhamad Tahir, W., & Azahari Mohd Yusof, M. (2024). Predatory Publishing: The Dark Side of Academic Dissemination. Library Progress International, 44(4), 1383–1391. https://doi.org/10.48165/BAPAS.2024.44.2.1
Cox, T., Kuk, G., & Leiter, M. P. (2018). Burnout, Health, Work Stress, and Organizational Healthiness. Professional Burnout, 177–193. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315227979-14/BURNOUT-HEALTH-WORK-STRESS-ORGANIZATIONAL-HEALTHINESS-TOM-COX-GEORGE-KUK-MICHAEL-LEITER
Demirel, E. E., & Erdirençelebi, M. (2019). The relationship of burnout with workaholism mediated by work-family life conflict: A study on female academicians. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 15(4), 1300–1316. https://doi.org/10.17263/JLLS.668436
Dlamini, N. G., & Dlamini, N. D. (2024). Understanding the well-being challenges confronting academic staff in South African universities: a narrative review. Discover Education, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/S44217-024-00089-8/TABLES/2
Haghighinejad, H., Jafari, P., Rezaie, M., Farrokhi, M., Jafari, M., & Ramzi, M. (2021). Burnout Comparison between Clinical and Basic Sciences Faculty of a Medical School and Evaluation of Related Factors. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 16(4), 399–408. https://doi.org/10.18502/IJPS.V16I4.7227
Holder, K. D., Lee, S. Y., Raza, F. Z., & Stroud, L. R. (2024). Addressing Burnout and Enhancing Well-Being Among Academic Physicians: A Call for Future Research and Organizational Support. HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine, 5(3), 199. https://doi.org/10.36518/2689-0216.1742
Jaswantlal, H., Abdul Rahman, A., Kadir @ Shahar, H., & Gyanchand Rampal, L. R. (2014). Prevalence of burnout and its associated factors among faculty academicians. http://www.medic.upm.edu.my/dokumen/FKUSK1_MJMHS_2014V10N1_OP08.pdf
Kinman, G., & Jones, F. (2008). A life beyond work? job demands, work-life balance, and wellbeing in UK Academics. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 17(1–2), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911350802165478
Lau, S. C., Chow, H. J., Wong, S. C., & Lim, C. S. (2020). An empirical study of the influence of individual-related factors on undergraduates’ academic burnout: Malaysian context. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-02-2020-0037/FULL/HTML
Lei, W., Li, J., Li, Y., Castaño, G., Yang, M., & Zou, B. (2021). The boundary conditions under which teaching–research conflict leads to university teachers’ job burnout. Studies in Higher Education, 46(2), 406–422. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1811218
Maslach, C. (2018). Burnout: a Multidimensional Perspective. Professional Burnout, 19–32. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315227979-3/BURNOUT-MULTIDIMENSIONAL-PERSPECTIVE-CHRISTINA-MASLACH
Maslach, C., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2018). Historical and Conceptual Development of Burnout. Professional Burnout, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315227979-1/HISTORICAL-CONCEPTUAL-DEVELOPMENT-BURNOUT-CHRISTINA-MASLACH-WILMAR-SCHAUFELI
Mesleki, A., Süresinin, G., Üzerindeki, T., İncelenmesi, E., Bir, K., Gokhan Bayrak, A., Zora, H., & Yagci, N. (2025). Investigating the Professional Tenure on Burnout Among Academicians: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences, 15(1), 104–111. https://doi.org/10.5505/kjms.2025.53765
Mohamed, S., Nikmat, A., Hashim, N. A., Shuib, N., & Raduan, N. J. N. (2020). Burnout and its relationship to psychological distress and job satisfaction among academicians and non-academicians in Malaysia. International Journal of Higher Education, 10(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.5430/IJHE.V10N1P85
Raduan, N. J. N., Mohamed, S., Hashim, N. A., Nikmat, A. W., Shuib, N., & Ali, N. F. (2022). Psychological Distress, Burnout and Job Satisfaction among Academicians in Science and Technology Faculties in a Malaysian University. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 23(6), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.54615/2231-7805.47262
Reevy, G. M., & Deason, G. (2014). Predictors of depression, stress, and anxiety among non-tenure track faculty. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(JUL). https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2014.00701
Schaufeli, W. B., Maslach, C., & Maslach, C. (2017). Professional Burnout. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315227979
Seibt, R., Spitzer, S., Druschke, D., Scheuch, K., & Hinz, A. (2013). Predictors of mental health in female teachers. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 26(6), 856–869. https://doi.org/10.2478/S13382-013-0161-8
Sestili, C., Cianfanelli, S., Scalingi, S., Del Cimmuto, A., De Sio, S., Villari, P., De Giusti, M., & La Torre, G. (2018). Reliability and use of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in Italian sample of University Professors. European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl_4). https://doi.org/10.1093/EURPUB/CKY218.272
Shen, P., & Slater, P. (2021). The Effect of Occupational Stress and Coping Strategies on Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Among University Academic Staff During the COVID-19 Outbreak. International Education Studies, 14(3), 82. https://doi.org/10.5539/IES.V14N3P82;
Shin, J. C., & Jung, J. (2014). Academics job satisfaction and job stress across countries in the changing academic environments. Higher Education, 67(5), 603–620. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10734-013-9668-Y
Springer, A., & Werner, I. (2020). Burnout Among Academics: An Empirical Study on the Universities of Poland. Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, 14(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52294-0_5
Watts, J., & Robertson, N. (2011). Burnout in university teaching staff: A systematic literature review. Educational Research, 53(1), 33–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2011.552235
YOLERİ, S. (2012). Determining The Factors That Affect Burnout And Job Satisfaction Among Academicians: A Sample Application On The Hitit University. Journal of Turkish Studies, Volume 7 Issue 4-I(7), 589–600. https://doi.org/10.7827/TURKISHSTUDIES.3973
Zhong, J., You, J., Gan, Y., Zhang, Y., Lu, C., & Wang, H. (2009). Job stress, burnout, depression symptoms, and physical health among chinese university teachers. Psychological Reports, 105(3), 1248–1254. https://doi.org/10.2466/PR0.105.F.1248-1254
Published
2025-08-31
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How to Cite
Hamzah, F. B., Abdul Manan, D. I., Mohtaram, S., Abdullah, N. M., & Abdul Aziz, M. A. (2025). Exhausted Minds, Passionate Hearts: The Silent Struggle of Academic Burnout. Journal of Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, and Education, 7(2), 365-376. https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.asci4106
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatimah Bibi Hamzah, Dewi Izzwi Abdul Manan, Saifuddin Mohtaram, Nik Mazlinahaiza Abdullah, Mohd Azril Abdul Aziz (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
