Does psychological capital and social support impact engagement and burnout in online distance learning students?

Background: Online distance learning at university level is growing in popularity. Learners are often faced with the dual demands of full-time work and part-time studying. The present study examines whether psychological capital predicts learner engagement and burnout and whether social support moderates these relationships. Method: Postgraduate distance learning students who work alongside their studies (n=465) completed measures of psychological capital, burnout, engagement, and social support. Results: Analysis showed psychological capital to significantly predict both burnout and engagement. Furthermore, social support was found to be influential. Conclusion: The findings indicate the benefit of psychological capital in an academic context. Implications of these findings and potential interventions are discussed.