Teachers’ burnout and work demands: Comparison over time and to other public professionals.

Abstract

Teachers are among professionals exposed to burnout because of stressful working conditions. Previous results on burnout among compulsory school teachers in Iceland have shown that between the years 1999 and 2005 symptoms captured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-ES) did not change extensively. Research indicates that the health and well-being of Icelandic compulsory teachers has deteriorated since the financial crisis in 2008. Financial cutbacks have resulted in lack of resources to tackle urgent challenges in schools such as meeting the needs of diverse student background, including behavioural and educational problems and multicultural issues. A shortage of compulsory–school teachers is a problem in Iceland and the number of teachers without certification working in compulsory schools is increasing. It is important in the light of the economic crisis and changes that have taken place in the school system and the foreseen shortage of compulsory teachers to evaluate burnout again as was the aim of this study. In addition, teachers’ work environment has yet to be evaluated using known models for comparison to other professions.

In this study, burnout is captured using the MBI-ES as was done in previous studies in Iceland (Anna Þóra Baldursdóttir & Valgerður Magnúsdóttir, 2007). Furthermore, the Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS) and JDRS (Job DemandsResources Scale) measuring work environment factors were used. Participants were 515 and the response rate was 38%. Of participants 85% were female.

Symptoms of emotional exhaustion on the MBE-ES scale had increased since before the economic crisis (from 1.5 to 2.4 on the original 6-point scale) while depersonalization and personal accomplishment had not. The teachers’ averages on emotional exhaustion (M = 2.4) and personal accomplishment (M = 4.6) were high but low for depersonalization (M = 0.7), indicating that symptoms of burnout are mainly related to emotional exhaustion. On the KEDS scale, 42% of the participants met the criteria for exhaustion disorder which is higher than among members of the Icelandic Confederation of University Graduates where 38% of those working as teachers in secondary schools, universities or in caregiving met the criteria, compared to 31% among those in other professions (e.g., architects, librarians, lawyers). Participants scored highest on job overload (M = 2.94) on the JDRS but also on the resources where they indicate they have good opportunities for growth (M = 2.92) and receive organizational support (2.95). Job insecurity (M = 1.52) is almost non-existent among compulsory school teachers and they also score low on advancement (M = 1.65). Results of the Pearson correlation indicated a strong positive association between Maslach’s emotional exhaustion scale and exhaustion disorder (KEDS) (r (515) = .72, p < 0.001). A regression analysis with the factors from the JDRS as predictors for emotional exhaustion and exhaustion disorder respectively showed that work overload predicts higher scores, while opportunities for growth and organizational support predict lower scores. Together, the five factors from JDRS explain 39% of the variance in emotional exhaustion and 29% of the variance in exhaustion disorder.

The study shows that symptoms of emotional exhaustion have increased among compulsory school teachers from previous studies while depersonalization and personal accomplishment stay at a similar level. While this is not a clear sign of occupational burnout according to the Maslach definition, the high scores of emotional exhaustion should not be overlooked as a high proportion of compulsory school teachers also meet the criteria for exhaustion disorder as defined by KEDS. To improve the wellbeing of compulsory school teachers and to prevent further development of burnout or exhaustion, job overload is a factor that needs to be considered. According to a recent study among compulsory teachers it is revealed that dealing with students’ behavioral problems and their multicultural background as well as parental communication is causing strain. It is urgent to take action to increase resources for compulsory school teachers to tackle these challenges in order to lower their job overload. This needs to be dealt with at a high level so that proper resources, both financial and material can be added within the school system. If action is not taken, this can result in a worsening state of the teachers’ health and well-being and even result in long term sickness absence or drop out from the profession.