Impact of Part-Time Work on Academic Burnout and Academic Stress among Undergraduate University Students

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the impact of part-time work on academic burnout and academic stress among undergraduate university students who are either engaged in part-time work or are not working. Although prior research has explored the psychological effects of part-time work, limited studies have directly compared working and non-working students, particularly in the Pakistani context. It is hypothesized that there will be a significant difference in the level of academic burnout and academic stress among part-time working students (jobians) and non-working students (non-jobians). Using convenience sampling, 300 undergraduate students (150 working and 150 non-working) were recruited from various universities. Data were collected both online and in person using a cross-sectional quantitative research design. Along with consent and demographic forms, the Academic Stress Scale Tool (ASST; Shafiq Zunaira) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory – Student Version (OLBI-S; Demerouti et al., 2003) were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS, including descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test. The findings indicated no statistically significant difference in the level of academic burnout and academic stress between working and non-working students, suggesting that university students experience stress and burnout regardless of employment status. Limitations, future research directions, and practical implications for improving students’ academic outcomes are also discussed.