SynthesisPloS one2021
Prevalence of burnout among university students in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
42 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Burnout among dental students: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC medical education · 2026Pooled it
- Burnout increased among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
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- Article
- Teacher Emotional Support and Adolescent Student Burnout: A Moderated Mediation Model of Family Cohesion and Meaning in Life.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of academic burnout among undergraduate health science students in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Positive parenting style and academic burnout in physical education teacher education students: a chain mediating model of physical activity and meaning in life.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Academic burnout and the protective role of self-efficacy among sports science undergraduates in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study.Journal of education and health promotion · 2026Article
- Burnout Across Healthcare, Educational, and Professional Populations: A Comprehensive Scoping Review.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Review
- The relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and academic burnout among university students: the mediating role of future time perspective and the moderating role of psychological flexibility.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Lifestyle Behaviors and Cognitive Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Role of Lifestyle Factors Among Omani University Students.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Eating disorders and related behaviors among medical students in Rabat, Morocco.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Prevalence of burnout among chiropractic students in Malaysia.The Journal of chiropractic education · 2025Article
- Burnout among VET pathway university students: The role of academic stress and school-life satisfaction.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Burnout Risk Profiles in Psychology Students: An Exploratory Study with Machine Learning.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Exploring the Mediation of Stress and Emotional Exhaustion on Academic Ineffectiveness and Cynicism Among University Students.Psychiatry investigation · 2025Article
- Optimizing Clinical Postgraduate Training: Perspectives of Postgraduate Alumni Regarding Their Residency Training at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.Advances in medical education and practice · 2025Article
- The relationship between adolescent legal cognition and academic burnout: the moderating role of satisfaction with the natural environment.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on medical interns' mental health of public and private hospitals in Guadalajara.Medical education online · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBurnout is common among university students and may adversely affect academic performance. Little is known about the true burden of this preventable malady among university students in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).
objectivesThis study aimed to systematically estimate the prevalence of burnout among university students in LMICs.
methodsWe searched PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Embase from the inception of each database until February 2021. Original studies were included. No study design or language restrictions were applied. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using STATA version 16.0. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using Q-statistics and funnel plots, respectively.
resultsFifty-five unique articles, including a total of 27,940 (Female: 16,215, 58.0%) university students from 24 LMICs were included. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used in 43 studies (78.2%). The pooled prevalence of burnout was 12.1% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 11.9-12.3; I2 = 99.7%, Q = 21,464.1, p = < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of emotional exhaustion (feelings of energy depletion), cynicism (negativism), and reduced professional efficacy were, 27.8% (95% CI 27.4-28.3; I2 = 98.17%. p = <0.001), 32.6 (95% CI: 32.0-33.1; I2: 99.5%; p = < 0.001), and 29.9% (95% CI: 28.8-30.9; I2: 98.1%; p = < 0.001), respectively.
conclusionNearly one-third of university students in LMICs experience burnout. More studies are needed to understand the causes of burnout in this key population. There is a need to validate freely available tools for use in these countries.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.