How does Wonder Woman Syndrome influence the occurrence and effect of burnout among university students before entering their profession?

This thesis explores the complex relationship between Wonder Woman Syndrome and the incidence and consequences of burnout among university students, particularly those pursuing a professional career. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the intricacies of work-related stress and its association with burnout in Acadia University’s Faculty of Professional Studies students. “How does Wonder Woman Syndrome influence the occurrence and effect of burnout among university students before entering their profession?”, was the main research topic that drove this study. In my survey, participants aged 17 to 27 represented the age range of students. They spanned from first to fifth year levels, providing comprehensive insights into their various stages of academic progress. Thirty-one participants identified as female, while the remaining nine identified as male or non-binary. The study’s findings on burnout show important trends among its subjects, including a high frequency of exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. Six individuals exhibited low exhaustion levels, eight displayed moderate levels, and twenty-six presented with high degrees of exhaustion. There were differences in the participants’ levels of depersonalization; nine were classified as low, fifteen as moderate, and sixteen as high. Furthermore, three individuals had high levels of personal achievement, six had moderate levels, and thirty-one had low levels. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that burnout levels were not substantially impacted by gender. The widespread problem of academic burnout that many students, including myself experience, greatly frustrates me, and this is the reason I conclude my analysis with an autoethnographic chapter. This research highlights academic burnout’s prevalence and urges structural reforms to support student wellbeing by addressing root causes like demanding course designs and excessive workloads.