Burnout Among Young People

Does Burnout Occur in Young People?

Yes, teenagers and children can experience burnout. According to the National Survey on Working Conditions [1], 21% of young people report symptoms associated with burnout. Among those aged 15 to 25, 12% say they feel “drained or emotionally exhausted at the end of the day.”

What Does “Burnout in Young People” Mean?

Burnout means being exhausted. You’ve used up more energy than your body has. This happens after experiencing stress for a long period without enough rest or recovery. Among adults, burnout is increasingly common — and now, more and more young people are also affected [2].

You can recognize burnout by the following signs:

• You feel physically tired and may have symptoms like headaches or stomach aches.
• You struggle to concentrate and get irritated quickly.
• You find it hard to manage everyday things like organizing your day or taking care of yourself.
• Making decisions is difficult.
• You may feel insecure or anxious.

Read more about the specific characteristics of burnout. The symptoms in young people are the same as in adults.

What Are Possible Causes?

In general, burnout happens when your physical and mental energy is depleted. You’ve experienced long-term stress without enough relaxation to balance it. That stress can come from a variety of situations:

• Always Keeping Going
  At school, at work, and in your private life, there are challenges — that’s normal. But in today’s performance-driven society, these challenges seem to be piling up. The bar is high, and life moves fast. There’s a strong urge to keep going at all times — from school, to work, to sports, to friends — always with your phone in hand. No breaks, no moments of doing absolutely nothing.
• Constant Stimuli
  Any spare moment is filled with digital activity: checking social media, gaming, watching Netflix, or listening to podcasts. You are constantly stimulating yourself.
• Social Pressure
  You want to be just as good as those around you. You want to do as much as the people you (often unconsciously) compare yourself to. You become aware of your own imperfections and limits, which can lead to a negative self-image and feelings of stress. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is made worse by social media.

What Are the Consequences for Young People?

If you’re experiencing burnout, it will affect your health and behavior. You may feel:

• listless
• exhausted
• insecure
• anxious
• irritable

Specific consequences for young people include:

• Falling behind at school or in your studies
• Feeling misunderstood by peers, who may not understand your lack of energy

Want to learn more? Read more about the negative effects of burnout.

Treatment and Recovery

Treatment for burnout in young people and children is generally the same as for adults. There’s no special distinction made. Discover the available treatment options for burnout — and what you can already start doing yourself.

However, some of the symptoms mentioned above, such as insecurity or emotional instability, may actually stem from trauma or other (psychiatric) issues. In that case, the treatment would be different. On the other hand, if you truly have burnout, you will always experience the symptoms listed above.

Help

Sources

[1] Welzijn en stress bij jongeren in coronatijd (CBS, 2021c)

[2] Forse stijging burn-out bij jongere werknemers (SKB, 2020)