Abstract

Burnout is an issue facing many who are in helping professions such as academic advising, but only a few studies have examined the factors impacting this syndrome, among academic advisors. The present study assesses the correlates of burnout among 107 academic advisors from universities existing throughout the state of Oklahoma. Here, burnout was measured through the three subscales (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to not only gauge what factors may be affecting burnout among academic advisors but also to ensure the factorial validity of the MBI among our sample. Results indicate support for the three-factor scale of the MBI. Age and advisor perceptions regarding role contentment, caseload, mental health status, and opportunities for career advancement are shown to impact burnout levels in the present analysis. Findings suggest that an advisor’s level of engagement in their work may be indicative of their level of burnout. Burnout refers to a sustained reaction to continual personal and relational stresses at one’s employment and may be operationalized through the aforementioned subscales of the MBI. Implications are discussed, with an emphasis on self-care and the importance of support from an advisor’s institution as factors that may attenuate burnout levels among academic advisors.