Overworked, underchallenged and indifferent: burnout among Indonesian academics

Purpose Heightened yet conflicting expectations have intensified job stressors among academics, such as constant task-switching, longer work hours and role conflicts. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between two job demands (work–family conflict and teaching and life interference with research) and two job resources (peer harmony and growth opportunity) with three burnout subtypes (frenetic, underchallenged and worn-out) among Indonesian academics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional research design was used. Online and offline surveys were used to collect data from 123 academics across Indonesia. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was carried out for each type of burnout subtype as the outcome variable. Findings Work–family conflict was a significant predictor of frenetic, underchallenged and worn-out burnout subtypes. Teaching and life interference with research was a significant stressor for the underchallenged subtype. Interestingly, growth opportunity led to higher frenetic burnout, suggesting that job resources could, in fact, lead to higher burnout. Peer harmony contributed to lower underchallenged and worn-out burnout subtypes. Semester load and the underchallenged subtype were weakly correlated. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to assess burnout subtypes and their antecedents among academics in the state-oriented higher education system of Indonesia. Recommendations at the policy, institutional and individual levels are proposed to mitigate burnout among Indonesian academics.