Computer vision syndrome with academic burnout among college students in majors of medical and health-related fields and the moderating effect of gender

College students in majors of medical and health-related fields in the academic environment are at high risk of experiencing academic burnout (AB) and computer vision syndrome (CVS). This study explored the direct relationship between CVS and AB among these students. In addition, the study grounded in Job Demand-resources (JD-R) Theory and Social Role Theory constructed a moderated mediation model to examine the mediating role of academic stress (AS) and the moderating role of gender. A total of 859 college students in majors of medical and health-related fields participated in this cross-sectional study. The results demonstrated that CVS had a significant positive prediction on both AS and AB among these students, AS significantly and positively predicted AB, AS played a significant mediating role in the relationship between CVS and AB. Additionally, gender significantly moderated the prediction of CVS on AB, no significant gender difference in CVS was observed, a significant gender difference in AB was found, with males reporting significantly higher AB than females, once again confirmed in the academic environments that gender is key to understanding burnout. These findings improve our understanding of how CVS contributes to AB and the emergence of gender difference of these students' AB. Furthermore, to promote gender equality in medical and health-related fields in academic environments, this study provides actionable insights for medical education institutions to mitigate both AB and CVS according to gender differences and the relationship between CVS and AB.