Addressing the Rising Issue of Burnout among Students and Young Adults

Abstract

The phenomenon of burnout or mental and emotional exhaustion is now increasingly experienced by young students and college students. High academic pressure, social demands, and uncertainty about the future are the main triggers for burnout in this productive age group. Burnout not only affects academic performance, but also overall mental health. This study aims to identify the factors that cause burnout and its impact on the academic performance and psychological well-being of young students. This research used a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with ten students from various educational institutions in Indonesia. The results showed that the main causes of burnout stemmed from academic overload, lack of rest time, and lack of emotional support from the surrounding environment. In addition, it was found that burnout affects learning motivation, concentration, and causes psychological disorders such as anxiety and mild depression. The findings are expected to serve as a basis for educational institutions and policy makers to design more effective preventive and curative interventions in dealing with burnout among young students.