The Mediating Role of Occupational Burnout between Job Stress and Job Performance among Iranian Teachers

Abstract

Background: Teachers are exposed to work stress due to high workload, role conflict, and environmental conditions that affect their performance. The present study investigates the mediating role of occupational burnout between job stress and job performance among Iranian teachers.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, and the participants were 292 high school teachers in Golestan province in 2019. To collect the data, we used three questionnaires of the Maslach burnout inventory, Paterson’s job performance questionnaire, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress indicator tool. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, and structural equation modelling.Results: The findings showed that 19.9% of teachers had burnout. The SEM indicated a negative and significant relationship between occupational burnout (β=-0.226) and job performance and job stress and job performance (β=-0.428). The mediating role of occupational burnout between job stress and job performance in teachers was confirmed.Conclusion: Occupational burnout is a mediating variable for the impact of job stressors on human performance. The findings of this study showed that role conflict and the quality of the relationship between colleagues could be recognized as two stressors affecting performance.

Keywords

• occupational stress
• psychological burnout
• work performance
• structural modelling
• iranian teachers