The Meaning of Resilience Among College Students Experiencing Academic Burnout: A Phenomenological Study in Makassar
Downloads
The phenomenon of academic burnout among university students has increased due to high academic demands and pressures within higher education environments. This research aims to explore and understand the meaning of resilience among students experiencing academic burnout in Makassar City. This study employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design to capture students’ subjective experiences. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation using triangulation techniques. The findings reveal that academic burnout is perceived as emotional exhaustion characterized by decreased motivation, cynicism, and psychological distress. The main contributing factors include excessive academic workload, time pressure, and high social expectations. Students’ adaptation processes occur through coping strategies, social support, and phases of falling, reflection, and recovery. The study concludes that resilience is a dynamic process involving the interaction of internal and external factors in developing the ability to survive and grow. These findings imply that universities need to develop targeted intervention programs, including resilience training, peer support systems, and accessible mental health services, while also encouraging educators to adopt more flexible and student-centered academic approaches to prevent and mitigate academic burnout.
Ainun, N., Roikhan, S. P., Agustin, U., & Avezahra, M. H. (2022). Coping mechanism mahasiswa psikologi saat mengalami burnout selama perkuliahan. Jurnal Flourishing, 2(8), 529–539. https://doi.org/10.17977/10.17977/um070v2i82022p529-539
Aloka, P. J. O. (2023). Academic resilience as predictor of academic adjustment among freshmen in distance learning programme at one public university. Social Sciences and Education Research Review, 10(1), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8151109
Amiri, M., Sadeghi, E., Mehmannavaz-Mikal, Z., Chaman, R., Monfared, A. B., & Khosravi, A. (2025). Investigating the relationship between academic burnout, resilience, and spiritual well-being among medical students. The Open Public Health Journal, 18(1), Article e18749445360329. https://doi.org/10.2174/0118749445360329250704041357
Chadha, S., & Chauhan, A. (2025). The relationship between academic pressure and burnout level in college students. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 7(3), 1–21.
Chen, K., Liu, F., Mou, L., Zhao, P., & Guo, L. (2022). How physical exercise impacts academic burnout in college students: The mediating effects of self-efficacy and resilience. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 964169. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.964169
Deng, Y., Cherian, J., Khan, N. U. N., Kumari, K., Sial, M. S., Comite, U., Gavurova, B., & Popp, J. (2022). Family and academic stress and their impact on students’ depression level and academic performance. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 869337.
Desmayani, N. (2026). Faktor yang mempengaruhi stres dan burnout pada mahasiswa tingkat akhir. Jurnal Menara Medika, 7(1), 2894–2906.
Egan, H., O'Hara, M., Cook, A., & Mantzios, M. (2021). Mindfulness, self-compassion, resiliency and wellbeing in higher education: A recipe to increase academic performance. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(3), 301–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1912306
El Barusi, A. R., & Kurniawati, F. (2024). Systematic literature review: A study of academic burnout among undergraduate students in universities. International Journal of Science Education and Cultural Studies, 3(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.58291/ijsecs.v3i1.198
Faghihzadeh, E., Eghtesad, A., Fawad, M., & Xu, X. (2025). Exploring connections between mental health, burnout, and academic factors among medical students at an Iranian university: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. JMIR Medical Education, 11, e58008. https://doi.org/10.2196/58008
Farisandy, E. D., Yulianto, A., Kinanti, A. D., & Ayu, B. A. (2023). The effect of self-compassion on academic burnout in undergraduate students. International Journal of Science Annals, 6(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2023.1.2
Gong, Z., Wang, H., Zhong, M., & Shao, Y. (2023). College students' learning stress, psychological resilience and learning burnout: Status quo and coping strategies. BMC Psychiatry, 23, 389. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04783-z
Kao, P.-C. (2024). Exploring the roles of academic expectation stress, adaptive coping, and academic resilience on perceived English proficiency. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 158.
Hasbillah, M. S. R., & Rahmasari, D. (n.d.). Burnout akademik pada mahasiswa yang sedang menempuh tugas akhir. Jurusan Psikologi, Universitas Negeri Surabaya.
Husna, A. B., Rahmi, A. S., & Putri, N. I. N. I. (2025). Exploring the root causes of burnout syndrome among college students: A systematic literature review of contributing factors. Jurnal Promkes: The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Health Education, 13(1 SI), 246–260. https://doi.org/10.20473/jpk.V13.11Sl.2025.246-260
Khaekal, M. F., Zubair, A. G. H., & Minarni. (2022). Resilience academic sebagai prediktor terhadap burnout academic pada mahasiswa tingkat akhir di Kota Makassar. Karakter: Jurnal Psikologi Karakter, 2(2), 126–134. https://doi.org/10.56326/jpk.v2i2.1875
Kumalasari, D. (2022). Academic resilience among Indonesian college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of future orientation and peer support. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 21(3), 541–558.
Lubis, Z., Dalimunthe, M. B., Lubis, W., Aditia, R., & Dalimunthe, R. Z. (2024). Examining coping strategies and academic resilience among Indonesian students: The role of gender and domicile. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 14(3), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.14.03.20
Manullang, N., Jailani, Sulistyowati, E., Hafidz, S., & Handaru, C. D. (2024). Does resilience affect students' psychological distress in Indonesia? A meta-analysis study. Jurnal Pendidikan Progresif, 14(1), 156–166. https://doi.org/10.23960/jpp.v14.11.202412
Moore, T. L. (2023). The lived experience and meaning of resilience in the setting of chronic illness and low-resource communities of African Americans that reside in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18(1), Article 2218221. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2218221
Özhan, M. B., & Yüksel, G. (2021). The effect of school burnout on academic achievement and well-being in high school students: A holistic model proposal. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 8(1), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.824488
Puah, S., Lim, S. M., Kok, X.-F. K., & Devilly, O. (2024). The longitudinal study on the reciprocal effects between GPA and burnout in university students, exploring grit, self-efficacy, and resilience as moderators. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1408058. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1408058
Purnamasari, D., Fitriana, S., & Ismah. (2024). Faktor penyebab academic burnout pada mahasiswa tingkat akhir. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Konseling, 1(3), 545–561.
Rachmawati, I., Astuti, B., & Kurniasari, M. (2024). Students' academic resilience: A descriptive study. Buletin Konseling Inovatif, 4(1), 55–60. https://doi.org/10.17977/um059v4i12024p55-60
Redityani, N. L. P. A., & Susilawati, L. K. P. A. (2021). Peran resiliensi dan dukungan sosial terhadap burnout pada mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Udayana. Jurnal Psikologi Udayana, 8(1), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.24843/JPU.2021.v08.101.p09
Ross, P. M., Scanes, E., & Locke, W. (2024). Stress adaptation and resilience of academics in higher education. Asia Pacific Education Review, 25(4), 829–849.
Rusandi, M. A., Liza, L. O., & Situmorang, D. D. B. (2022). Burnout and resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak: Differences between male and female students. Heliyon, 8, e10019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10019
Serafica, J. G., & Muria, N. M. (2023). The relationship between academic burnout and resilience to academic achievement among college students: A mixed methods study. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 14, 697–714. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10025884
Simanjuntak, A. R., & Triwahyuni, P. (2025). Studi fenomenologis: Pengalaman mahasiswa broken home di Universitas Advent Indonesia. Jurnal Ners, 9(4), 7335–7343.
Tóth, E., & Jagodics, B. (2025). Examining university student burnout in relation to demands, resources and perfectionism: The mediating role of emotional regulation. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 9(3), 121–138. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202534349
Vastine, K. T., & Kocur, J. L. (2023). Involvement in Advanced Placement classes and burnout in college. Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, 13(1), 29–40.
Wiguna, F. A., Wijaya, A. N., Nabila, N. A., & Sawitri, D. R. (2024). Factors influencing academic resilience among university students: A systematic literature review. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Psychological Studies (ICoPsy 2024). https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.24-7-2024.2354394
Ye, Y., Huang, X., & Liu, Y. (2021). Social support and academic burnout among university students: A moderated mediation model. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, 335–344. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S300797
Copyright (c) 2026 Husniyah Aisyah Burhan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
