Educational and Relational Stressors Associated with Burnout in Korean Medical Students.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine whether educational stressors and relational stressors are associated with burnout in medical students and to test social support as a moderator between stressors and burnout.


METHODS
A total of 263 medical students attending Gyeongsang National University composed the study sample. A standardized questionnaire was used to investigate educational and relational stressors, three dimensions of burnout, and social support of medical students.


RESULTS
The findings showed that overall burnout is very high among Korean medical students, with 9.9% totally burned out. Educational and relational stressors were significantly associated with the risk of burnout in medical students after controlling for socio-demographics and health behaviors. Social support moderated educational and relational stressors on personal accomplishment, but did not moderate stressors on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Burnout level is substantially high among Korean medical students. Educational and relational stressors are significantly associated with burnout risk in Korean medical students. Social support had moderated educational and relational stressors on personal accomplishment. The results suggest that more social support for medical students is needed to buffer stressors on and burnout.
Department of Medical Education and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Hyun
JH
Seo
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Hye Jung
HJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Bong-Jo
BJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
So-Jin
SJ
Lee
Department of Social Welfare, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Hwa-Ok
HO
Bae
Burnout; Medical students; Social support; Stressors