Burnout Literacy: A Novel Model and Measure to Aid the Recognition, Management, and Prevention of Student Burnout

Burnout is an increasingly common and debilitating phenomenon among students. However, while progress is being made, there are still limited options to promote its recognition, and aid in its management and prevention. Our aim was to provide one such option by introducing the concept of burnout literacy (i.e. knowledge and beliefs about burnout). Following a pre-registered protocol with open data, methods, and code, and using a multi-stage process, we developed and tested the Burnout Literacy Questionnaire-Student Version. We recruited multiple samples of university/college students from the UK and USA (total N = 500) and used exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory structural equation modelling to test its psychometric properties. We also provided an initial exploration of its construct validity, and we examined differences in burnout literacy among various student subgroups. Overall, the findings supported a 17-item, five-factor measure with robust psychometric properties. The freely available Burnout Literacy Questionnaire-Student Version provides the first means to assess burnout literacy in students, which will aid in the recognition, management, and prevention of student burnout.