TY - JOUR
T1 - Burnout and engagement among PhD students in medicine
T2 - the BEeP study
AU - Kusurkar, Rashmi A.
AU - van der Burgt, Stéphanie M.E.
AU - Isik, Ulviye
AU - Mak-van der Vossen, Marianne
AU - Wilschut, Janneke
AU - Wouters, Anouk
AU - Koster, Andries S.
N1 - Funding Information: This research study was funded by all 8 Amsterdam UMC Research Institutes (Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Gastroenterology & Metabolism, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences) and the Human Resources Department of Amsterdam UMC. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3/1
Y1 - 2021/3/1
N2 - Introduction: Using a self-determination theory framework, we investigated burnout and engagement among PhD students in medicine, and their association with motivation, work-life balance and satisfaction or frustration of their basic psychological needs. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among PhD students at a university medical centre (n = 990) using an electronic survey on background characteristics and validated burnout, engagement, motivation and basic psychological needs questionnaires. Cluster analysis was performed on the burnout subscale scores to find subgroups within the sample which had similar profiles on burnout. Structural equation modelling was conducted on a hypothesized model of frustration of basic psychological needs and burnout. Results: The response rate was 47% (n = 464). We found three clusters/subgroups which were composed of PhD students with similar burnout profiles within the cluster and different profiles between the clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 199, 47%) had low scores on burnout. Clusters 2 (n = 168, 40%) and 3 (n = 55, 13%) had moderate and high burnout scores, respectively, and were associated with low engagement scores. Cluster 3, with the highest burnout scores, was associated with the lowest motivational, engagement, needs satisfaction and work-life balance scores. We found a good fit for the “basic psychological needs frustration associated with burnout” model. Discussion: The most important variables for burnout among PhD students in medicine were lack of sleep and frustration of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. These add to the factors found in the literature.
AB - Introduction: Using a self-determination theory framework, we investigated burnout and engagement among PhD students in medicine, and their association with motivation, work-life balance and satisfaction or frustration of their basic psychological needs. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among PhD students at a university medical centre (n = 990) using an electronic survey on background characteristics and validated burnout, engagement, motivation and basic psychological needs questionnaires. Cluster analysis was performed on the burnout subscale scores to find subgroups within the sample which had similar profiles on burnout. Structural equation modelling was conducted on a hypothesized model of frustration of basic psychological needs and burnout. Results: The response rate was 47% (n = 464). We found three clusters/subgroups which were composed of PhD students with similar burnout profiles within the cluster and different profiles between the clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 199, 47%) had low scores on burnout. Clusters 2 (n = 168, 40%) and 3 (n = 55, 13%) had moderate and high burnout scores, respectively, and were associated with low engagement scores. Cluster 3, with the highest burnout scores, was associated with the lowest motivational, engagement, needs satisfaction and work-life balance scores. We found a good fit for the “basic psychological needs frustration associated with burnout” model. Discussion: The most important variables for burnout among PhD students in medicine were lack of sleep and frustration of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. These add to the factors found in the literature.
KW - Burnout
KW - Engagement
KW - Medicine
KW - Motivation
KW - PhD students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097216672&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-020-00637-6
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-020-00637-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 33284408
SN - 2212-2761
VL - 10
SP - 110
EP - 117
JO - Perspectives on medical education
JF - Perspectives on medical education
IS - 2
ER -