Academic burnout and engagement among technical-professional students in the Colombian Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords:
Affective symptoms; Burnout; Engagement; Technical students.Abstract
Introduction: During COVID-19, a high prevalence of psychological distress was reported among students, which suggests that they may be at greater risk than the general population of developing psychological disorders in confinement situations. Objective: To evaluate the presence and severity of affective symptoms and burnout and the degree of academic commitment in students at the professional technical level of the Colombian Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic and its related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using an online questionnaire about demographic variables, anxiety, depression, fear of COVID-19, burnout, and academic commitment. Results: 251 students between 19 and 44 years old responded (M=20; IQR=4), 69% of them women. 41% presented depressive symptoms, and 27% showed anxious symptoms. Emotional exhaustion was related to depressive symptoms, cynicism to anxious symptoms, and academic efficacy to perceived health status, age, and severity of depressive symptoms. In turn, cynicism and efficacy were related to academic engagement. Fear of COVID was not related to any of the variables of interest. Conclusions: An interrelation was found between affective symptoms, perception of health status, age, burnout, and academic commitment. New studies are required to address this problem in the population of interest and clarify causal relationships.
Downloads
References
Aloufi, M.A., Jarden, RJ, Gerdtz, M.F., & Kapp, S. (2021). Reducing stress, anxiety and depression in undergraduate nursing students: Systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 102, 104877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104877
Barreto-Osma, A., & Salazar-Blanco, A. (2021). Emotional exhaustion in university students in the health field. University and Health, 23(1), 30–39. https://revistas.udenar.edu.co/index.php/usalud/article/view/4644/7043
Becerra Canales, B.D., & Campos Martínez, H. (2021). Mood and mental health of students at a Peruvian university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher Medical Education, 35(0), 1–22. https://ems.sld.cu/index.php/ems/article/view/2500
Biondi, B., & Benuzzi, A.L. (2021). Anxiety, engagement, and academic burnout in students from the Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy at the National University of San Luis. Perspectives in Psychology, 18(1), 118–122. http://perspectivas.mdp.edu.ar/revista/index.php/pep/article/view/556
Caballero, C. (2012). Academic burnout: Prevalence and associated factors among university students in the health sector in the city of Barranquilla [Doctoral thesis, Universidad del Norte].
Caballero-Domínguez, C., González Gutiérrez, O., & Palacio Sañudo, J. (2015). Relationship between burnout and engagement with depression, anxiety, and academic performance in university students. Uninorte Health Journal, 31(1), 59–69. https://rcientificas.uninorte.edu.co/index.php/salud/article/view/5085
Camargo, L., Herrera-Pino, J., Shelach, S., Soto-Añari, M., Porto, M.F., Alonso, M., … Campo-Arias, A. (2021). Generalized anxiety scale GAD-7 in Colombian medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: construct validity and reliability. Colombian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcp.2021.06.003
Campbell, F., Blank, L., Cantrell, A., Baxter, S., Blackmore, C., Dixon, J., ... & White, M. (2022). Factors that influence mental health of university and college students in the UK: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13943-x
Campo-Arias, A., Tirado-Otálvaro, AF, Álvarez-Solorza, I., & Cassiani-Miranda, CA (2021). Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, gender differential item functioning and discriminant validity of the Fear of COVID-5 Scale amidst emerging adult university students in Mexico. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211016216
Carolina Foundation. (2021). Higher education in Latin America during the pandemic: Impact and teacher responses. https://www.fundacioncarolina.es/librolaeducacionsuperioreniberoamerica/
Caro, Y., Trujillo, S., & Trujillo, N. (2019). Prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety in university students in the health field. Psychologia, 13(1), 41–52. https://revistas.usb.edu.co/index.php/Psychologia/article/view/3726
Cassiani-Miranda, CA, Tirado-Otálvaro, AF, & Campo-Arias, A. (2022). Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in the general Colombian population. Death Studies, 46(3), 595–602. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2021.1874572
Chacaltana-Hernández, KM, Bontempo Lozano, EM, & Varela Guevara, SG (2022). Fear of coronavirus and depression in psychology students from Ica. PSIQUEMAG/Scientific Digital Journal of Psychology, 11(2), 42–49. http://revistas.ucv.edu.pe/index.php/psiquemag/article/view/2109
Chang, J.-J., Ji, Y., Li, Y.-H., Pan, H.-F., & Su, P.-Y. (2021). Prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms among college students during COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 292, 242–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.109
Cortés, JA, Espitia, P., & Rosero-Lasso, YL (2020). Citywide preparedness for a pandemic: A cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices about respiratory infection prevention in Bogotá, Colombia. Biomedical, 40(Suppl. 2), 159–165. https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.5526
Domínguez, C.C.C., Hederich, C., & Sañudo, J.P. (2010). Academic burnout: Delimitation of the syndrome and factors associated with its onset. Latin American Journal of Psychology, 42(1), 131–146. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/805/80515880012.pdf
Eidman, L., Toledo, M., Lavia, N., Marturet, A., Zaragosa Seratti, D., San Martín, C., … Giannone, D. (2021). Preliminary study on academic engagement in Argentine university students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. XVII International Conference on Psychological Research UCES. http://dspace.uces.edu.ar:8180/xmlui/handle/123456789/5977
Gamage, KAA, de Silva, EK, & Gunawardhana, N. (2020). Online delivery and assessment during COVID-19: Safeguarding academic integrity. Educational Sciences, 10(11), 301. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10110301
Gao, W., Ping, S., & Liu, X. (2020). Gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: A longitudinal study from China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 263, 292–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.121
García-Campayo, J., Zamorano, E., Ruiz, MA, Pérez-Páramo, M., López-Gómez, V., & Rejas, J. (2012). The assessment of generalized anxiety disorder: Psychometric validation of the Spanish version of the self-administered GAD-2 scale in daily medical practice. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10, 114. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-10-114
Gutiérrez Pastor, I., Quesada Rico, J.A., Gutiérrez Pastor, A., Nouni García, R., & Carratalá Munuera, M.C. (2021). Depression, anxiety, and self-perceived health in medical students: a cross-sectional study. Spanish Journal of Medical Education, 2(2), 21–31. https://revistas.um.es/edumed/article/view/470371
Jiménez-Villamizar, MP (2025). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic challenges on university students: A comprehensive approach [Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]. TDX Doctoral Theses in Xarxa. https://www.tdx.cat/handle/10803/695004
Jiménez-Villamizar, M., Comendador-Vázquez, L., Sanabria-Mazo, J., Mateo-Canedo, C., Losilla, J., Muro, A., & Sanz, A. (2025b). Mental health in the short- and long-term adaptation processes of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis [Preprint]. MedRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.14.25323978
Jiménez-Villamizar, MP, & Caballero-Domínguez, CC (2021). Perceived general health and its association with academic burnout syndrome and suicidal ideation in Colombian university students. Psicogente, 24(45), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.17081/psico.24.45.3878
Jiménez-Villamizar, M. P., Muro, A., Navarro, J.-B., Carmona, M., Cladellas, R., Feliu-Soler, A., Reche-Camba, E., López-Fernández, D., Méndez-Ulrich, J. L., Selva, C., & Sanz, A. (2023). Predictive factors of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students: A study in six Ibero-American countries. Ansiedad y Estrés, 29(3), 153–162. https://doi.org/10.5093/ANYES2023A19
Klimenko, O., Galeano-Estrada, DA, Hernández-Flórez, NE, Márquez-Rojas , NR, & Arroyave-Jaramillo, DL (2025). Perception of academic stressors and some aspects of learning in a sample of Colombian university students. Psicoespacios, 19(34). https://doi.org/10.25057/21452776.1714
Klimenko, O. ., Hernández-Flórez, N. ., Estrada Vélez, MA ., Narváez Cortes, M. ., Sepúlveda Cespedes, E. ., & Arroyave-Jaramillo, DL . (2024). Learning-teaching strategies in primary and secondary education within the framework of the 4.0 educational model: Literature review . QVADRATA. Studies on Education, Arts and Humanities, 6(12), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.54167/qvadrata.v6i12.1459
Kristanto, T., Chen, W.S., & Thoo, Y.Y. (2016). Academic burnout and eating disorder among students in Monash University Malaysia. Eating Behaviors, 22(2), 96–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.029
Li, W., Zhao, Z., Chen, D., Peng, Y., & Lu, Z. (2022). Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(11), 1222–1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13606
López Cánovas, DFJ, & Chiclana, DC (2018). Engagement, a platform for personal development. Communication and Man, (14), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.32466/eufv-cyh.2018.14.274.55-64
Manzano-León, A., Camacho-Lazarraga, P., Guerrero, M.A., Guerrero-Puerta, L., Aguilar-Parra, J.M., Trigueros, R., … Fernández-Campoy, J.M. (2021). Between level up and game over: A systematic literature review of gamification in education. Sustainability, 13(4), 2247. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042247
Martínez, I.M., & Salanova, M. (2003). Burnout and engagement levels in university students: Relationship with professional performance and development. Journal of Education, 330, 361–371. https://www.want.uji.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2003_Martínez-Salanova.pdf
Mateo-Canedo, C., Crespo-Puig, N., Cladellas, R., Méndez-Ulrich, JL, & Sanz, A. (2023). MOTEMO-OUTDOOR: Ensuring learning and health security during the COVID-19 pandemic through outdoor and online environments in higher education. Learning Environments Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-023-09456-y
Medina, G., Lujano Ortega, Y., Aza Suaña, P., & Sucari Turpo, WG (2020). Resilience and engagement in university students during the context of COVID-19. Innova Educación Magazine, 2(4), 658–667. https://doi.org/10.35622/j.rie.2020.04.010
Orellana, C.I., & Orellana, L.M. (2020). Predictors of emotional symptoms during home quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic in El Salvador. Current Psychology, 34(128), 103–120. https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/actualidades/article/view/41431
Restrepo, JE, Castañeda Quirama, T., & Zambrano Cruz, R. (2022). Depression and anxiety symptoms among Colombian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Science and Nursing, 28(19), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.29393/ce28-19sdjr30019
Saddik, B., Hussein, A., Albanna, A., Elbarazi, I., Al-Shujairi, A., Temsah, M.H., … Al-Mazrouei, S. (2021). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: A nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 224. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03213-2
Sahu, P. (2020). Closure of universities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact on education and mental health of students and academic staff. Cureus, 12(4), e7541. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7541
Sakpal, TV (2010). Sample size estimation in clinical research. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 1(2), 67–69. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21829786
Sandín, B., Valiente, R.M., García-Escalera, J., & Chorot, P. (2020). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Negative and positive effects in Spanish people during the mandatory national quarantine. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology, 25(1), 1–22. https://revistas.uned.es/index.php/RPPC/article/view/27569
Schaufeli, WB, Salanova, M., Bakker, AB, & González-Romá, V. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326
Seperak-Viera, R., Fernández-Arata, M., & Domínguez, S. (2021). Prevalence and severity of academic burnout in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interacciones, 7, e199. https://doi.org/10.24016/2021.v7.199
Suárez Colorado, Y.P., & Mendoza Mendoza, J.A. (2014). Mental health indicators and employee engagement in an economic development company. CUC Economics, 35(2), 133–146. https://revistascientificas.cuc.edu.co/economicascuc/article/view/527
Sun, X., So, SH, Chan, RCK, Chiu, CD, & Leung, PWL (2019). Worry and metacognitions as predictors of the development of anxiety and paranoia. Scientific Reports, 9, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51280-z
Tlili, M.A., Aouicha, W., Sahli, J., Testouri, A., Hamoudi, M., Mtiraoui, A., Dhiab, MB, Chelbi, S., Ajmi, T., Rejeb, MB, & Mallouli, M. (2020). Prevalence of burnout among health sciences students and determination of its associated factors. Psychology, Health & Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2020.1802050
Vallejos, M. (2021). Academic commitment and burnout syndrome in students at a national university in Lima [Doctoral thesis, César Vallejo University]. https://repositorio.ucv.edu.pe/handle/20.500.12692/65463
Wang, C., Wen, W., Zhang, H., Ni, J., Jiang, J., Cheng, Y., ... & Feng, Z. (2021). Anxiety, depression, and stress prevalence among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1960849
World Health Organization. (2021). Depression. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Zapata-Ospina, JP, Patiño-Lugo, DF, Vélez, CM, Campos-Ortiz, S., Madrid-Martínez, P., Pemberthy-Quintero, S., ... & Vélez, JI (2021). Mental health interventions for college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A critical synthesis of the literature. Colombian Journal of Psychiatry, 50(3), 199–213.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Nexus (MIR) is an open-access journal. All of its content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
This license allows third parties to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author and the journal, and that a link to the license is included. The full version of the license can be consulted at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es
