Occupational Burnout and Pro-Health Behaviours of Pre-School Teachers from Kraków

Abstract

Preserving and improving human health potential is fostered by a healthy lifestyle, in particular a rational diet, recreational physical activity, effective coping with psychological stress, avoidance of psychoactive substances and risky sexual contacts, and the use of preventive examinations. The aim of the study was to assess health-related behaviours and professional burnout of pre-school teachers from Kraków. Anonymous research, by means of diagnostic survey, was conducted in 2018 among a randomly selected group of teachers from public (n = 139) and non-public (n = 43) preschools in Kraków. The Occupational Burnout Questionnaire (MBI) based on the concept of Ch. Maslach was used to assess the structure of professional burnout (emotional depletion, depersonalisation and sense of professional achievement). Using the Inventory of Pro-health Behaviours (IZZ) by Z. Juczyński, four categories of pro-health behaviours were assessed: correct eating habits, preventive behaviours, positive mental attitude and health practices. The results of correlation analysis using Pearson’s r showed a relationship between three out of four scales of the Inventory of Pro-health Behaviours (preventive behaviours, positive mental attitude, health practices) and a general indicator of health behaviours and the results of the MBI questionnaire. The obtained data suggest that people who present health-related behaviours to a lesser extent are characterised by a higher level of burnout components.

Keywords

• teacher
• pre-school education
• professional burnout
• pro-health behaviours