The Effect of Extracurricular Activities on the Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Sense of Personal Accomplishment (Burnout) of Academically High-Achieving Adolescents

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Psychology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Written Paper Award

2nd Place

Abstract

In recent years, depression has become an increasingly concerning topic of discussion in public high school. Less discussed is burnout, which is often mistaken for depression. The syndromes are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but they are treated differently. It is possible that teenagers experience burnout due to constant participation in clubs and community service activities they believe necessary to gain entry into competitive colleges. It was hypothesized that adolescents participating in sports will have lower burnout scores than others because better health likely leads to less burnout. It was also hypothesized that, due to competing priorities, adolescents participating in more weekly extracurricular activity hours would have higher burnout scores. In order to test the hypotheses, Richland School District 2 students were sent a survey asking about their extra-curricular activities. The adolescents then filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which interpreted their burnout on a numerical scale. Results were tabulated and compared. An ANOVA showed no difference in burnout between students in any of the extracurricular time commitment categories F(5,120)=0.184, p>0.05. Likewise, a 2 sample Z test revealed no difference between sport participants (M=60.1, SD=19.4) and non-participants(M=59.5, SD=17.7), z=0.186, p>0.05. Therefore, neither of the hypotheses were supported. While extracurricular activities do not decrease burnout, neither do they increase it, thus they should remain a part of of a well rounded education.

Location

Founders Hall 251 B

Start Date

3-30-2019 9:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 9:00 AM

The Effect of Extracurricular Activities on the Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Sense of Personal Accomplishment (Burnout) of Academically High-Achieving Adolescents

Founders Hall 251 B

In recent years, depression has become an increasingly concerning topic of discussion in public high school. Less discussed is burnout, which is often mistaken for depression. The syndromes are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but they are treated differently. It is possible that teenagers experience burnout due to constant participation in clubs and community service activities they believe necessary to gain entry into competitive colleges. It was hypothesized that adolescents participating in sports will have lower burnout scores than others because better health likely leads to less burnout. It was also hypothesized that, due to competing priorities, adolescents participating in more weekly extracurricular activity hours would have higher burnout scores. In order to test the hypotheses, Richland School District 2 students were sent a survey asking about their extra-curricular activities. The adolescents then filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which interpreted their burnout on a numerical scale. Results were tabulated and compared. An ANOVA showed no difference in burnout between students in any of the extracurricular time commitment categories F(5,120)=0.184, p>0.05. Likewise, a 2 sample Z test revealed no difference between sport participants (M=60.1, SD=19.4) and non-participants(M=59.5, SD=17.7), z=0.186, p>0.05. Therefore, neither of the hypotheses were supported. While extracurricular activities do not decrease burnout, neither do they increase it, thus they should remain a part of of a well rounded education.