Burnout and its Association with Academic Performance among Students of Allied Health Sciences, Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a multidimensional psychological syndrome arising from chronic, unmanaged stress, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Although burnout is well-documented among healthcare professionals, its burden among allied health sciences students in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remains poorly understood. These students face a dual burden of demanding theoretical coursework and emotionally intensive clinical training, placing them at heightened risk. Understanding the prevalence of burnout and its relationship with academic performance in this population is essential for developing targeted institutional interventions. Objective: To assess the prevalence of burnout and its association with academic performance (GPA) and psychosocial factors among undergraduate allied health sciences students at Khyber Medical University affiliated institutes in Peshawar, Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from October 2025 to February 2026, enrolling 424 undergraduate students from public and private allied health sciences institutes affiliated with Khyber Medical University via proportional stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire comprising a sociodemographic section, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Burnout was defined as a CBI total score ≥50. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of Khyber Medical University (No. KMU/IPHSS/Ethics/CO/2026/434). Results: Of 424 participants (60.4% male; mean age 22.97±1.94 years), 32.8% met the criteria for burnout. Personal burnout was the most prevalent domain (43.9%), followed by work-related (32.8%) and client-related burnout (20.5%). Burnout was significantly associated with female gender (χ²=5.98, p=.014), severe perceived stress (χ²=57.04, p<.001), presence of chronic disease (χ²=15.41, p<.001), physical inactivity (χ²=7.82, p=.005), fewer study hours per week (χ²=9.99, p=.019), and single marital status (χ²=4.06, p=.044). A significant negative correlation was observed between total burnout score and GPA (r=−.153, p=.002). Multiple linear regression confirmed burnout (β=−.175, p<.001) as an independent predictor of lower academic performance, with the model explaining 7.3% of variance in GPA (R²=.073). Conclusion: Approximately one-third of allied health sciences students in Peshawar experience burnout, with personal burnout being the dominant domain. Burnout is significantly associated with female gender, high perceived stress, physical inactivity, chronic illness, lower study engagement, and single marital status. Burnout independently predicts reduced academic performance. Proactive institutional measures, including structured stress management programs, mental health counselling services, and physical wellness initiatives, are urgently needed to mitigate burnout and protect both student wellbeing and academic outcomes.

Keywords: Burnout; Allied health sciences; Academic performance; Copenhagen Burnout Inventory; Perceived stress