PhD | Burnouts’ Lessons in resilience: understanding Burnout from the perspective of first generation university graduates – Caro Suringar

PhD | Burnouts’ Lessons in resilience: understanding Burnout from the perspective of first generation university graduates 
PhD-Candidate: Caro Suringar
Supervisors: Sibo Kanobana, Sarah De Mul, Judith Semeijn, Karin Proost
Institution: Open University

Studies suggest that first-generation students (students who are the first in their family to attend university) are more prone to feelings of burnout than traditional students. Deficit perspectives tend to view this marginalised group in terms of perceived vulnerability or weakness rather than seeing the potential in their strengths. In order to challenge this perception of first-generation graduates, while at the same time accepting that life is precarious in itself, this PhD-project will explore the experience of burnout among first-generation university graduates, using three levels of analysis. These levels are macro level (cultural studies), meso level (HRM) and micro level (psychology). Using a hermeneutic, discourse analytic approach focusing on life narratives in interviews and novels, the perspective of first generation university graduates on burnout and resilience will emerge. Ultimately, this PhD-project aims to contribute to better interventions and prevention of burnout. By understanding how factors at different levels contribute to burnout, more targeted strategies can be developed to improve the well-being of first-generation graduates during their education and work.