School Burnout after COVID-19, Prevalence and Role of Different Risk and Protective Factors in Preteen Students.

BACKGROUND: Current data show an increase in stress among youth since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the question of the measures to be put in place to limit it.

AIM: The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of burnout and the different risk and protective factors of burnout among students and to compare the mean scores obtained with those collected in a similar sample in 2014.

METHOD: Perceived health, school burnout, and the different risk and protective factors among students were measured by self-reported questionnaires among a sample of 184 students (11-13 years old).

RESULTS: The results indicate significantly higher burnout scores than in 2014. Different variables were predictive of school burnout: 1. At the individual level, a low academic achievement in mathematics, somatic symptoms, and the expressed stress; 2. At the interpersonal level, lack of support from peers, teachers, and parents and a negative classroom climate; 3. At the pandemic level, the increased workload related to the consequences of COVID-19. The factors with the greatest impact are confidence in the future, perceived stress, parental supports, and mathematics results.

CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program targeting these four factors among burned out students would be relevant to set up in order to reduce its prevalence.