Dual Pathways From Self-Compassion and Self-Criticism to Academic Achievement: The Roles of Engagement and Exhaustion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Engagement and burnout symptoms among medical students are key factors influencing their academic performance, risk of dropout, and overall well-being. While research has primarily focused on negative constructs such as burnout symptoms, less attention has been given to how positive constructs, such as engagement, evolve over time. This study examines the temporal changes in medical students' engagement and exhaustion while exploring two distinct pathways: the 'bright path', which investigates engagement as a mediator between self-compassion and academic achievement, and the 'dark path', which examines exhaustion as a mediator between self-criticism and academic achievement.

Methods

Self-report measures were used to assess self-compassion, self-criticism, engageme

SUBMITTER: Consiglio P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12922675 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature