Emotional Exhaustion and Mental Health in a Sample of Chilean Social Science Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jonathan Martínez-Líbano, María Mercedes Yeomans, Nicol González Campusano, Eduardo Campos Flores

Abstract


Emotional exhaustion and mental health in university students are a public health problem given the harmful repercussions they have on their quality of life and the possible future consequences, even more so if in the academic period the students are affected by a pandemic like COVID -19. is research aimed to determine the presence and degree of emotional exhaustion and its possible repercussions on mental health in social science students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The design was descriptive and cross-sectional, and a questionnaire was used with sociodemographic variables, perception of the affectation of mental health, and the scale of emotional exhaustion (ECE). e results were that a high percentage of 90.2% reported a worsening of their mental health with the presentation of stress symptoms (64.1%), sensitivity (41%), anxiety/distress (39.7%), irritability (39.4%), and depressive symptoms (34.9%). The influencing factors were the pandemic (61.9%), confinement and social distancing (47.3%), economic problems (41.6%), and the news (23.8%). In addition, a high (65.7%); medium (29.2%) and low (5.1%) emotional exhaustion. We can conclude that social sciences students find themselves with high degrees of emotional exhaustion and a perception of a great deterioration in their mental health. ese results should call our attention to continue studying the mental health consequences of COVID-19 to prevent possible mental pathologies in the future

Keywords


emotional exhaustion, mental health, university students, pandemic



DOI: https://doi.org/10.62174/%7bpsocial}.v7i2.7149

References


Acuff, S. F., Strickland, J. C., Tucker, J. A., & Murphy, J. G. (2021). Changes in Alcohol Use During COVID-19 and Associations With Contextual and Individual Difference Variables : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

Al-alawi, M., Al-sinawi, H., Al-qubtan, A., & Al-lawati, J. (2017). Prevalence and determinats of burnout Syndrome and Depression among medicar students at Sultan Qaboos University: A cross sectional analytical study form Oman. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 1–5. https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1080%2F19338244.2017.1400941

Banerjee, D. (2020). “ Pandemonium of the Pandemic ”: Impact of COVID-19 in India , Focus on Mental Health. Psychological Trauma:Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(6), 588–592. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-57017-001.html

Benner, K., Curl, A. L., & Benner, K. (2018). Exhausted , Stressed , and Disengaged : Does Employment Create Burnout for Social Work Students ? Exhausted , Stressed , and Disengaged : Does Employment Create. Journal of Social Work Education, 54(2), 300–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2017.1341858

Besser, A., Flett, G. L., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2020). Adaptability to a sudden transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Understanding the challenges for students. Scholarship of Teachingand Learning in Psychology. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000198

Boudoukha, A. H., Ouagazzal, O., & Goutaudier, N. (2017). When traumatic event exposure characteristics matter: Impact of traumatic event exposure characteristics on posttraumatic and dissociative symptoms. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 9(5), 561–566. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000243

Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Research, 287, 112934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934

Chan, M., Sharkey, J. D., Lawrie, S. I., Arch, D. A. N., & Nylund-gibson, K. (2021). Elementary School Teacher Well-Being and Supportive Measures Amid COVID-19 : An Exploratory Study. School Psychology, 36(6), 533–545.

Cushman, S., & West, R. (2006). Precursors to college student burnout: Developing a typology of understanding. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 7(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/17459430600964638

Danzi, B. A., Strobel, S., Puumala, S. E., Kenyon, D. B., Connell, M. C. O., & Vanness, C. (2021). Stressors, Concerns, and Mental Health in the Early Pandemic in South Dakota. Journal of Rural Mental Healthj.

Erschens, R., Loda, T., Herrmann-werner, A., Eva, K., Stuber, F., Nikendei, C., Zipfel, S., Erschens, R., Loda, T., Herrmann-werner, A., Eva, K., Stuber, F., Nikendei, C., Zipfel, S., & Behaviour-, F. J. (2018). Behaviour-based functional and dysfunctional strategies of medical students to cope with burnout. Medical Education Online, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2018.1535738

Farrell, S. M., Molodynski, A., Cohen, D., Grant, A. J., Rees, S., & Wullshleger, A. (2019). Wellbeing and burnout among medical students in Wales. Psychiatry, 31(7), 8–12. 10.1080 / 09540261.2019.1678251

Fusar-Poli, P., Salazar de Pablo, G., De Micheli, A., Nieman, D. H., Correll, C. U., Kessing, L. V., Pfennig, A., Bechdolf, A., Borgwardt, S., Arango, C., & van Amelsvoort, T. (2020). What is good mental health? A scoping review. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 31, 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.12.105

Galbraith, C. S., & Merrill, G. B. (2015). Academic performance and burnout: an efficient frontier analysis of resource use efficiency among employed university students. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 39(2), 255–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2013.858673

Gruber, J., Prinstein, M. J., Clark, L. A., Rottenberg, J., Abramowitz, J. S., Albano, A. M., Aldao, A., Borelli, J. L., Chung, T., Davila, J., Forbes, E. E., Gee, D. G., Hall, G. C. N., Hallion, L. S., Hinshaw, S. P., Hofmann, S. G., Hollon, S. D., Joormann, J., Kazdin, A. E., … Weinstock, L. M. (2020). Mental Health and Clinical Psychological Science in the Time of COVID-19: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Call to Action. American Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000707

Gurung, R. A. R., & Stone, A. M. (2020). Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology Learning During the Pandemic. Cholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. Advance Online Publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-78359-001

Hamza, C. A., Ewing, L., Heath, N. L., & Goldstein, A. L. (2020). When Social Isolation Is Nothing New: A Longitudinal Study Psychological Distress During COVID-19 Among University Students With and Without Preexisting Mental Health Concerns. Canadian Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000255

Henssler, J., Stock, F., van Bohemen, J., Walter, H., Heinz, A., & Brandt, L. (2021). Mental health effects of infection containment strategies: quarantine and isolation—a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 271(2), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01196-x

Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020). Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Research, 288, 1–3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32325383/

Humphrey, K. R. (2013). Using a Student-Led Support Group to Reduce Stress and Burnout Among BSW Students. Social Work with Groups, 36(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2012.712905

Kim, J. E., Saw, A., & Zane, N. (2015). The influence of psychological symptoms on mental health literacy of college students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(6), 620–630. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000074

Kivlighan, D. M., Schreier, B. A., Gates, C., Hong, J. E., Corkery, J. M., Anderson, C. L., & Keeton, P. M. (2020). The role of mental health counseling in college students’ academic success: An interrupted time series analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000534

Lancaster, M., & Arango, E. (2021). Health and emotional well-being of urban university students in the era of COVID-19. Traumatology, 27(1), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000308

Lukacs, A. (2021). Mental Well-Being of University Students in Social Isolation. European Journal of Health Psychology, 28(1), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000065

Marler, E. K., Bruce, M. J., Abaoud, A., Henrichsen, C., Suksatan, W., Homvisetvongsa, S., & Matsuo, H. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on university students’ academic motivation, social connection, and psychological well-being. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000294

Marrau, M. (2004). El síndrome de Burnout y sus posibles consecuencias en el trabajador docente. Fundamentos En Humanidades, V(10), 53–68.

Martínez-Líbano, J., & Yeomans Cabrera, M. M. (2021). SUICIDAL IDEATION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Revista Argentina de Clinica Psicologica, 30(2), 390–405. https://doi.org/10.24205/03276716.2020.40

Martínez, J. (2020). Salud Mental en Estudiantes Chilenos durante confinamiento por Covid-19: revisión bibliográfica.

Maslach, C., Jackson, S. E., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). Maslach Burnout Inventory: Third edition. In Evaluating stress: A book of resources. (pp. 191–218). Scarecrow Education.

McLaughlin, J. C., & Gunnell, D. (2020). Suicide Deaths in University Students in a UK City between 2010 and 2018 - Case Series. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000704

Omary, A. T. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Crisis Ahead. 44(4), 274–275.

Pagnin, D., Queiroz, V. De, Amaral, M., & Filho, D. O. (2020). burnout and career choice motivation in medical students. Medical Teacher, 35(5), 1–5. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/0142159X.2013.769673?journalCode=imte20

Pandey, D., Bansal, S., Goyal, S., Garg, A., Sethi, N., Pothiyill, D. I., Sreelakshmi, E. S., Sayyad, M. G., & Sethi, R. (2020). Psychological impact of mass quarantine on population during pandemics-The COVID-19 Lock-Down (COLD) study. PLoS ONE, 15(10 October). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240501

Ramos, F., Manga, D., & Moran, C. (2005). Escala de cansancio emocional (ECE) para estudiantes universitarios: propiedades psicométricas en una muestra de México. Anales de Psicología, 23(2), 253–257. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271846180_Escala_de_cansancio_emocional_ECE_para_estudiantes_universitarios

Salmela-aro, K. (2017). Dark and bright sides of thriving – school burnout and engagement in the Finnish context. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 5629, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1207517

Schaufeli, W., Martínez, I., Pinto, A. M., Salanova, M., & Bakker, A. B. (2020). Burnout and engagement in university students: A cross-national study. 8–15.

Sun, S., Lin, D., Goldberg, S., Shen, Z., Chen, P., Qiao, S., Brewer, J., Loucks, E., & Operario, D. (2021). A mindfulness-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention among psychologically distressed university students in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000568

Sun, Y., Lin, S.-Y., & Chung, K. K. H. (2020). University Students’ Perceived Peer Support and Experienced Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Emotional Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249308

Tlili, M. A., Aouicha, W., Sahli, J., Testouri, A., Hamoudi, M., Mtiraoui, A., Dhiab, M. Ben, Chelbi, S., Ajmi, T., Rejeb, M. Ben, & Mallouli, M. (2020). Prevalence of burnout among health sciences students and determination of its associated factors. 10–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2020.1802050

Wang, Z.-H., Yang, H.-L., Yang, Y.-Q., Liu, D., Li, Z.-H., Zhang, X.-R., Zhang, Y.-J., Shen, D., Chen, P.-L., Song, W.-Q., Wang, X.-M., Wu, X.-B., Yang, X.-F., & Mao, C. (2020). Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptom, and the demands for psychological knowledge and interventions in college students during COVID-19 epidemic: A large cross-sectional study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.034

Williams, C. J., Dziurawiec, S., & Heritage, B. (2018). More pain than gain: Effort-reward imbalance, burnout, and withdrawal intentions within a university student population. Journal of Educational Psychology, 110(3), 378–394. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000212

Xin, M., Luo, S., She, R., Yu, Y., Wang, S., Lin, D., Wang, H., Wang, Z., & Lau, J. T. (2020). Negative Cognitive and Psychological Correlates of Mandatory Quarantine During the Initial COVID-19 Outbreak in China. American Psychologist, 75(5), 607–617. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-51214-002.pdf

Yang, D., Tu, C., & Dai, X. (2020). The Effect of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on College Students in Wuhan. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12, 6–14. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-41745-001.pdf

Yeomans, M. M., & Silva, A. (2020). Pedagogical and Psychosocial Implications of Quarantine by Covid-19 on Chilean Students. Revista Educación Las Américas, 10. http://revistas.udla.cl/rea/index.php/rea/article/view/78


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Estadísticas
Visitas al Abstract:1217
PDF (Español (España)):1188
EPUB (Español (España)):82
XML (Español (España)):289
HTML (Español (España)):1090


{PSOCIAL} Journal of Research in Social Psychology. Faculty of Social Sciences | University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

ISSN 2422-619X. Semiannual publication (January-June and July-December).
 
Design: Mae Bermudez
 
 Jorunal Indexed and listed in:
  • ERIH PLUS (European Reference Index for the Humanities and Social Sciences) [registry]
  • Latindex Catálogo 2.0 (Regional Cooperative Online Information System for Scholarly Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portuga) [registry]
  • DOAJ (Directory Open Access Journals) [registry]
  • MIAR (Information Matrix for the Analysis of Journals) [registry]
  • PSICODOC (Online Bibliographic Database Madrid Official College of Psychologists) [registry] 
  • RDIUBA (Institutional Digital Repository) [registry]
  • REDIB (Iberoamerican Network for Innovation and Scientific Knowledge) [registry]
  • Open AIRE (Open Access Infraestructure for Research in Europe) [registry] 
  • Red LatinRev / FLACSO library (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences) [registry]
  • BINPAR (National Bibliography of Registered Periodicals) [registry]
  • LATINOAMERICANA (Association of Academic Journals of Humanities and Social Sciences) [registry]
  • CLASE (Latin-American Citations in Social Sciences and Humanities) [registry]
  • Sherpa Romeo [registry]
  • Basic Nucleus of Argentine Scientific Journals [registry]
  • Mirab@l [registry]
  • Cabells' Journalytics [registry]
  • CIRC (Integrated Classification of Scientific Journals) [registry]
  • AmeliCA [registry]
  • LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature [registry]
  • EBSCO (Elton Bryson Stephens Company Information Services) [registry]
  • Malena [registry] 
  • Sara Network [registry]
  • SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) [registry]
  • Redalyc (Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and. Portuga) [registry]
 

This journal is licenced under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)