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. 2021 Apr 27:9:653440.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.653440. eCollection 2021.

Time Pressure and Health-Related Loss of Productivity in University Students: The Mediating Role of Exhaustion

Burkhard Gusy  1 , Tino Lesener  1 , Christine Wolter  1
Affiliations

Time Pressure and Health-Related Loss of Productivity in University Students: The Mediating Role of Exhaustion

Burkhard Gusy et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Being present at work when sick is not just prevalent in employees. Since university is also a demanding context, there is a growing interest in this phenomenon in university students. Especially students with mental health issues show a higher degree of productivity loss. However, little research has examined the causes of these productivity losses-especially in university students. Therefore, we examined health-related (burnout) and non-health-related (time pressure) aspects that lead to productivity losses in the long run. Methods: We decided to examine the effect from time pressure on health-related loss of productivity, mediated by exhaustion. This assumption is in line with the health impairment process proposed by the Study Demands-Resources (SD-R) framework. To examine this assumption properly, we conducted a longitudinal study with three occasions. We surveyed 392 students in three waves over 1 year and performed structural equation modeling (SEM) to confirm the assumptions longitudinally. Results: In line with our assumptions, time pressure predicted burnout which, in turn, predicted health-related loss of productivity in the long run. Hence-as assumed by the SD-R framework-burnout serves as a mediator between study demands and negative outcomes such as loss of productivity. Discussion: Our study is the first that uncovers health-related and non-health-related causes of health-related productivity loss in university students. Thus, we were able to confirm SD-R's health impairment process longitudinally. Since we know that time pressure serves as a major antecedent for burnout and health-related loss of productivity, we are well-advised to establish appropriate interventions to reduce students' time pressure.

Keywords: health-related loss of productivity; student burnout; student well-being; study demands-resources framework; time pressure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The study demands-resources (SD-R) framework.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The hypothesized model. All exogenous latent constructs are represented by manifest variables shown in Table 2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The final model. The manifest variables are not shown in this figure. *p > 0.05; **p > 0.01; ***p > 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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