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Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine burnout levels of secondary education teachers in terms of some variables. The study was conducted with descriptive survey model and 532 secondary education teachers working in Aydin in 2009-2010 academic year participated in the study. At the end of the study it was found that there was a significant difference between teachers' burnout levels and their demographic features such as subject, age, sex, seniority, and their opinions about relationships with administrators and colleagues, updated secondary education curriculum. On the other hand, it was seen that there was no significant difference between their burnout levels and demographic features like faculty they graduated and type of school they work and their opinions about physical condition of the school they work, academic level of students, their economic levels, university entrance system and their attendance to in service training courses. Findings reached were discussed in connection with literature and suggestions were made.
Key Words
Burnout, Secondary Education, Teacher, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment
Burnout is defined as a function of stress individuals feel in their social and professional life (Gold & Bachelor, 2001), loss of aim, energy and idealism towards job (Edelwich & Brodsky, 1980), exhaustion and tiredness because of a decrease in physical and emotional energy (Maslach, Schoufeli, & Leiter (2001). Maslach et al. (2001) conceptualized burnout in three dimensional phenomenon, these are exhaustion, depersonalization and accomplishment. As a result of burnout individual's performance at work decreases and it causes damages in his health both physically and psychologically at behavioral level. Consequently some problems were identified in individual's personal and family life (Black, 2003; Hellesøy, Grønhaug, & Kvitastein, 2000; Maslach et al.).
Physical symptoms of burnout can be listed as following; headache, fatigue, problems in stomach, ulcer, restlessness, increase in heart rhythm, cardiovascular problems and neurological problems (Black, 2003; Talmor, Reiter, & Feigin, 2005), psychological symptoms are rage, indication of depression, steady tension, confusion, indecision, chronic anxiety, long term insufficiency feeling, low self-esteem, hopelessness, substance addiction, problem with focusing, charging others for his own responsibilities, disappointment and anxiety attack (Black,; Naylor, 2001; Sari, 2004; Talmor et al.; Wood, 2002), behavioral indications are deterioration of interaction, having mocking manner towards his colleagues and other individuals, absenteeism or showing...