EXPLORING THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF DROPOUT SYNDROME AMONG STUDENTS USING E-LEARNING PLATFORMS

As the use of e-learning platforms rises, many students are experiencing difficulties that result in decreased engagement or complete withdrawal—a phenomenon known as dropout syndrome. This study examines the main causes of behavior, focusing on elements like motivation levels, technological difficulties, economic and language barriers, personal factors, and digital fatigue based on data collected from 100 undergraduate students from Palakkad district in Kerala . Findings reveal that personal circumstances and accessibility challenges have the most significant impact on student satisfaction, while motivation and technical issues show minimal influence. Motivation and technical issues showed minimal influence likely because respondents had varied backgrounds and coping abilities, leading to different experiences and reduced overall impact. Although satisfaction plays a role, its link to app avoidance is limited, suggesting that dropout syndrome is driven by deeper, often unresolved, personal and contextual reasons. The study further supports the distinctiveness of each variable using HTMT analysis, improving the dependability of the findings. The research suggests that dropout or avoidance behavior is less about app design or motivation, and more about external, real-life challenges faced by learners. Making e-learning app more accessible, inexpensive, and accommodating to a range of student demands should be the main goal of future initiatives to reduce dropout syndrome.