Association between academic burnout exposure patterns and symptoms of depression and anxiety among international students in China

This study aimed to investigate the association between academic burnout exposure patterns and symptoms of depression and anxiety among international students in China, as well as potential gender differences, in order to provide a reference for improving their psychological health. A questionnaire survey was conducted from October 2023 to October 2024 among some international students in five cities, including Hefei and Huangshan in Anhui Province, Qingdao in Shandong Province, Jinzhou in Liaoning Province, and Tianjin. A total 1262 valid questionnaires were obtained. International students’ academic burnout during their study in China was assessed through the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to observe the patterns of exposure to academic burnout of these students. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of academic burnout exposure patterns on depression and anxiety symptoms among international students. Of the international students, 25.4% were found to have depressive symptoms and 19.1% anxiety symptoms. The detection rates for both depression and anxiety were higher in female students than in male students (30.2% vs. 18.6%, P<0.001;22.2% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.001). Through LPA, academic burnout was categorized into three profiles: Low Exhaustion - High Efficacy (53.3%), Moderate Exhaustion - Moderate Efficacy (28.8%), and Low Exhaustion - Low Efficacy (17.9%). Taking the Low Exhaustion - High Efficacy Group as a reference, the Moderate Exhaustion - Moderate Efficacy Group significantly increased the risk of depression (OR = 6.875, 95%CI: 5.027 ~ 9.402) and anxiety (OR = 8.144, 95%CI: 5.727 ~ 11.582). This association showed gender differences (P<0.001). The Low Exhaustion - Low Efficacy Group was not statistically associated with depressive or anxious symptoms. Compared to male students, female students are more prone to experiencing depressive and anxious emotions. The Moderate Exhaustion - Moderate Efficacy pattern is a common risk factor for depressive and anxious symptoms in international students of both genders. Early identification and intervention for high-risk groups of academic burnout, as well as reducing academic burnout among international students, can help alleviate the mental health burden.