Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Marc Karver, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Tammy D. Allen, Ph.D.

Committee Member

James McHale, Ph.D.

Keywords

academic fit, college burnout, environmental perceptions, personal factors, student health

Abstract

Burnout has been shown to be a pressing mental health outcome across populations, and this phenomenon has received more recent attention in young adult and student populations with increasing evidence mirroring what has previously been found in workplace research. However, the current research has not yet developed a theoretical model towards student burnout specifically, and the existing multidimensional theory of burnout does not capture precursors towards the first stages of the syndrome. The current study uses the person-environment (P-E) fit as a framework to identify relevant environmental and individual factors, as research has suggested perceived environmental fit is associated with stress and burnout. The current study occurred in two parts to address this objective: the first study organized a measure of expectations from faculty and norms from peers using existing literature, and the second study examined relationships from these factors to P-E fit and from P-E fit to burnout. Both studies sampled college students from a southeastern United States university (Study 1 N = 46, Study 2 N = 242), and regression analysis was used across hypotheses. Findings revealed that individual factors were more relevant than environmental perceptions in perceived fit, and measures of both academic and social fit seem to be associated with student burnout. However, for some students, one of these domains may be more important. This study suggests the balance of both domains is important to consider in research and in practice within college settings and that these relationships appear to be more dynamic than previously captured.

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