Occupational burnout refers to decreasing coping ability of an individual due to stressors and subsequent physical and emotional burnout, which would lead to a negative self-impression, negative attitude towards the occupation, and feeling of getting disconnected from others [1].
Academic burnout is relatively common among students and refers to a sense of fatigue due to high academic demands and requirements (educational burnout), negative attitudes and lack of interest in the field of study (academic disinterest), and sense of incompetence in education (academic inefficacy) [2]. Academic burnout is often associated with sadness and loss of interest which can decrease motivation and negatively affect the quality of learning and performance [3], especially in dental students due to their heavy educational curriculum [4-6]. Thus, the screening of dental students for academic burnout is imperative to come up with strategies for its prevention and subsequent adverse effects on their physical and mental health.
The prevalence of academic burnout differs worldwide [7-9]. It often occurs as the result of inability to cope with the educational curriculum [10-12]. Studies reveal that regardless of the current educational system, the rate of academic burnout is high among dental and medical students [6, 10, 13, 14]. Academic burnout can result in quitting, missing classes, or having a bad mood. It can also cause physical fatigue, insomnia, alcoholism, substance abuse, and family issues [11, 15].
Motivation is an internal force that accounts for the efforts an individual makes at work. There are two main theories, namely content theories and process theories which clarify the nature of motivation, where the former focuses on individual needs that affect behavior in the workplace, whereas the latter addresses equity and expectancy theory [16]. People have different motivations for their activities, and their priorities are not the same [17-19]. Individuals’ career choice motivation may not be the same either. Lack of career motivation can lead to decreased efficiency [19]. Motivation triggers all human activities including learning. It empowers the learners and guides their activities [18]. The presence of motivation in the process of education enhances learning, facilitates communication, decreases anxiety, and results in creativity in learning. People have widely variable motivations for learning and selecting their careers [20]. Factors commonly considered as career motivations include wages and benefits, vibrant working environment, occupational safety, interest in the occupation and its related social communications, the nature of occupation, social position and appreciation, and attractiveness of the job [21]. Career choice motivations often depend on the family and educational environments, influential people with diverse personal, social, cultural and financial backgrounds, interests and values, beliefs, personal characteristics and personality traits as well as capabilities and skills of an individual. The literature shows that gender, race, and level of parents’ education can also impact the individuals’ career choice motivations [22]. Comparing motivational factors in students of Medicine and Dentistry, we found that dental students are more motivated by status, security, and the nature of dentistry (e.g. regular working hours, self-employment, independence, and financial gain). However, medical students are motivated by factors related to career opportunities, patient care, working with people, use of personal skills, and interest in science. [23]
Physicians and dental clinicians often tolerate high levels of stress and 21 % of Dutch dentists have certain risks for burnout [24]. Around 13% of dental clinicians experience high levels of occupational burnout [25]. Also, evidence shows that dental clinicians are under much higher tension and stress due to the nature of their occupation compared with other jobs and reported existence of variable burnout scores among dental students [4-6, 26]. Previous studies on dental students have shown some stress factors, such as lack of leisure time, examination anxiety, the transition stress in adapting themselves to the demands of the clinical phase of dental education, patient-related stress, study obligation ,and pressure [5, 6].
Studies on academic burnout of dental students in Iran and its association with their career choice motivations are limited. However, some controversies exist in the literature. While some researchers contend that being motivated does not necessarily result in positive educational outcomes [27], others believe that internal motivation facilitates deep learning, better academic performance, and positive student well-being [28]. Thus, this study sought to assess the relationship between academic burnout and career choice motivations in senior dental students in Tehran.