Academic Fulfillment and its association with Burnout among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Karachi, Pakistan
1
Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
3
Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2606
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Burnout is highly prevalent among medical students and is associated with adverse academic and mental health outcomes. While burnout has been widely studied, less attention has been given to academic fulfillment, a construct reflecting students’ internal experiences of meaning, motivation, and engagement, as a potential protective factor, particularly in settings such as Pakistan.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 325 undergraduate medical students conveniently recruited from public and private medical institutions in Karachi, Pakistan. Burnout was assessed using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)–Student Version Short. Academic fulfillment was measured using a 16-item composite variable. Data was collected via an online questionnaire. The data was analyzed using linear regression analyses using STATA 17 software.
RESULTS:
The mean age of participants was 20.48 ± 1.35 years, and 60.9% were female. The mean average burnout score was 2.89 ± 0.81, while the mean academic fulfillment score was 54.05 ± 11.28. Poor sleep quality was prevalent in 75.4% of participants, and 53.5% reported that screen time moderately to severely affected their academic focus. In adjusted analyses, higher academic fulfillment was independently associated with lower burnout scores (β = −0.01; 95% CI: −0.02, −0.01). Female gender (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.36), poor social support (β = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.62), poorer sleep quality (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.10), and greater daily smartphone use (β = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07) were associated with higher burnout. Students who did not intend to pursue medicine after graduation also reported higher burnout levels (β = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.45).
CONCLUSIONS:
Academic fulfillment was inversely associated with burnout among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. Interventions that promote academic meaning and engagement, alongside addressing sleep, screen use, and social support, may help mitigate burnout in medical education settings in Pakistan.
Burnout is highly prevalent among medical students and is associated with adverse academic and mental health outcomes. While burnout has been widely studied, less attention has been given to academic fulfillment, a construct reflecting students’ internal experiences of meaning, motivation, and engagement, as a potential protective factor, particularly in settings such as Pakistan.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 325 undergraduate medical students conveniently recruited from public and private medical institutions in Karachi, Pakistan. Burnout was assessed using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)–Student Version Short. Academic fulfillment was measured using a 16-item composite variable. Data was collected via an online questionnaire. The data was analyzed using linear regression analyses using STATA 17 software.
RESULTS:
The mean age of participants was 20.48 ± 1.35 years, and 60.9% were female. The mean average burnout score was 2.89 ± 0.81, while the mean academic fulfillment score was 54.05 ± 11.28. Poor sleep quality was prevalent in 75.4% of participants, and 53.5% reported that screen time moderately to severely affected their academic focus. In adjusted analyses, higher academic fulfillment was independently associated with lower burnout scores (β = −0.01; 95% CI: −0.02, −0.01). Female gender (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.36), poor social support (β = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.62), poorer sleep quality (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.10), and greater daily smartphone use (β = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07) were associated with higher burnout. Students who did not intend to pursue medicine after graduation also reported higher burnout levels (β = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.45).
CONCLUSIONS:
Academic fulfillment was inversely associated with burnout among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. Interventions that promote academic meaning and engagement, alongside addressing sleep, screen use, and social support, may help mitigate burnout in medical education settings in Pakistan.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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