Physical Activity and Mental Toughness as Antecedents of Academic Burnout among School Students: A Latent Profile Approach

Background: The purpose of the current survey-based study was to identify patterns of academic burnout and their antecedents among secondary school students. Methods: Secondary school students (n = 1209) completed a survey measuring academic burnout, physical activity, and mental toughness. Results: Using latent profile analyses, three burnout profiles were identified: a “moderately engaged group” (n = 699; 57.8%), a “burnout group” (n = 389; 32.2%), and a “well-functioning group” (n = 121; 10.0%). Group comparisons revealed that the “well-functioning group” reported significantly higher levels of physical activity and mental toughness than the other two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that lack of physical activity and mental toughness are potential risk factors for academic burnout. These findings may inform the development of intervention programs for academic burnout.