Teacher burnout?Solutions for the 1980s: A review of the literature

Abstract

In recent years, popular, professional, and scholarly journals and periodicals have carried a significant number of articles concerning the teacher burnout phenomenon. This phenomenon is described as “physical, emotional, and attitudinal exhaustion” and results in a significant decrease in teacher job satisfaction and performance. It is caused by high levels of stress related to inordinate time demands, inadequate relationships, large class sizes, lack of resources, isolation, fear of violence, role ambiguity, limited promotional opportunities, lack of support, etc. In addition to resulting in a number of emotional and physical illnesses, burnout manifests itself in increased job turnover and absenteeism, reduced job satisfaction, mental and physical withdrawal and detachment, increased inter- and intraindividual conflict, and a general reduction in individual and ultimately school performance. Some solutions which hold considerable promise for reducing this phenomenon are improved teacher status; rewarding ambition, commitment, motivation, and performance; job enrichment or redesign; preservice stress preparation; teacher conditioning; improved supervision and support; implementing quality circles; joint student-parent-teacher problem solving; and participatory team leadership.