A pilot study investigating the efficacy of brief, phone-based, behavioral interventions for burnout in graduate students.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study tested the efficacy of two brief, phone-administered, behavioral interventions derived from behavioral activation in reducing burnout among doctoral students. METHODS: Sixty-six doctoral students demonstrating current high burnout were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: (1) Reward: increasing pleasant, rewarding behaviors, (2) Approach: approaching important goals that they have been avoiding, or (3) Control: monitoring only. RESULTS: Results indicated that doctoral students treated with the approach intervention reported significantly lower burnout compared to participants in the control condition immediately after the intervention and at a 1-week follow-up. Results also suggested that students in the approach intervention also reported higher well-being compared to students in the control condition. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that this approach intervention is an effective treatment for school burnout for doctoral students that can be delivered remotely through phone and web technology.

Duke Scholars

Author Mark Zachary Rosenthal Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...