Spotlight on SOTL: Burn Bright, Not Out: Tackling Student Burnout in Education
This article is based on the following research article:
Madigan, D. J., Kim, L. E., & Glandorf, H. L. (2024). Interventions to reduce burnout in students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 39, 931–957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-023-00731-3
Burnout is something many of us have faced—marked by emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a diminished sense of accomplishment. For students, burnout can deeply affect mental health, motivation, and academic performance, making it an issue that educators and institutions must take seriously. This systematic review analyzed 17 studies, involving 2,462 students, to explore evidence-based strategies for reducing burnout.
The takeaway? Burnout doesn’t have to define the student experience. Educators have access to practical, research-backed strategies that can reduce stress, enhance academic success, and foster a healthier, more supportive learning environment where students can truly thrive.
What did the researchers do and find?
The researchers used a meta-analytic approach to examine 17 studies involving 2,462 students, aiming to identify what truly helps reduce burnout in educational settings. These studies explored interventions such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), and psychoeducation. REBT – a form of CBT that helps individuals identify and challenge irrational beliefs to develop healthier emotional responses and behaviors –emerged as the most effective intervention, significantly reducing symptoms like emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Mindfulness-based approaches also showed moderate success in managing stress and improving emotional well-being.
A key insight is that these interventions don’t just offer surface-level solutions—they vary in focus, with some targeting specific symptoms, like exhaustion, while others addressed broader issues, such as detachment and reduced motivation.
This review highlighted the value of structured, evidence-based strategies that can be applied across diverse educational contexts. However, it also revealed gaps in the research, such as the long-term effects of these interventions and how they can be scaled to benefit larger student populations.
How might you use this research in your teaching?
Burnout is the dark side of the student experience, but this research helps shed light on practical ways to address it. Incorporating mindfulness exercises, like brief breathing practices or moments for reflection, into your teaching can provide students with a chance to reset and refocus. These activities are easy to implement and can help create a more balanced and supportive classroom environment.
Adding psychoeducational content to your course materials is another effective strategy. Topics like time management, coping strategies, or stress management can be introduced through short discussions, handouts, or optional resources. These small additions can give students tools to better navigate the demands of academic life.
Importantly, making instructors and students aware of burnout, signs and symptoms of burnout, and resources and supports for managing burnout. At McMaster University, students can visit the Student Wellness Centre or read this article that offers an explanation of burnout and links to helpful websites.
At a broader level, institutions could offer workshops or programs that draw from CBT or REBT principles. These could help students challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, develop resilience, and find healthier ways to approach their workload.
Taking these steps not only supports students in managing burnout but also helps them develop skills that will benefit them long-term. By making space for these practices in your teaching, you can foster an environment where students feel equipped to handle challenges and succeed, both academically and personally.
Spotlight on SOTL