The epidemological profile of non–university teachers suffering from burnout in the region of Murcia (Spain)

Abstract

Burnout is a state of emotional and mental loss that is developed by those engaged in professions which entail human interactions. A group at high risk is that of teachers. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the syndrome among teachers. To do so we designed a cross-sectional study, which consisted of a questionnaire answered by a population of 200 non-university teachers in Murcia (Spain). The variables (epidemiological data, the level of stress and its consequences, and burnout) were measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The results show a significant relation between the level of stress/burnout and consequences, age and seniority, but they do not show a significant relation with gender. In addition, we find a lower level of exhaustion and depersonalization, and lower personal accomplishment than in the reference sample, being the dimension that most significantly correlates with teachers’ burning out that of emotional exhaustion (p <0.0001) followed by personal accomplishment (p <0.003) and finally depersonalization (p <0.01). Our epidemiological profile of highest risk is that of a 43-year-old woman, single, without children and with a maximum working experience of 19 years.

Keywords

• Burnout
• Stress
• Teacher
• Epidemiology