Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome and its Association with Perceived Stress among Medical Students of Swat: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Abstract
Background & Objective: Medical education involves substantial academic and psychological demands, placing students at high risk of perceived stress and burnout. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of perceived stress and its association with Burnout sub-domains among medical students of Swat, Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2026 among undergraduate medical students of Saidu Medical College and Swat Medical College, Swat. 421 students participated via a self-administered questionnaire. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used to evaluate perceived stress, and Burnout was assessed across three sub-domains –Overload, Lack of Development, and Neglect, using the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire for Students (BCSQ-12-SS). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression were carried out. Results: Among the 421 participants, 242 (57.5%) were male and 179 (42.5%) were female. The mean PSS-10 score was, 20.28 ± 5.69, with 80.5% showing moderate stress and 10.9% showing high stress. The mean total burnout score was 39.02 ± 9.77. Among burnout subdomains, Lack of Development remained predominant (mean score 14.40 ± 4.05), followed by Overload (13.10 ± 4.54) and Neglect (11.51 ± 4.14), respectively. Perceived stress was significantly correlated with all three sub-domains of Burnout (p<0.001). A p-value of 0.252, 0.217, and 0.095 was demonstrated with Overload, Lack of Development and Neglect, respectively, signifying a weak correlation. Conclusion: Medical students in Swat report a significant levels of perceived stress and burnout indicating the importance of prioritizing mental health throughout undergraduate medical students. To prevent burnout and improve students' academic progress and general mental health, medical institutions should integrate evidence-based stress-management programs, accessible counseling services, and supportive learning environments. Key Words: Burnout Syndrome, Students, Perceived Stress.