Factors associated with worse levels in the Burnout scale in basic education teachers

Abstract Burnout syndrome results from chronic occupational stress and is composed by three dimensions emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism) and professional fulfillment. The study aimed to identify, in basic education teachers from Londrina, Brazil, factors associated with worse levels in these dimensions. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted between August 2012 and June 2013 that gathered information on socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, relationships in school, violence, and burnout syndrome (by means of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - MBI). Scores over the percentile 75 in the MBI (exhaustion and cynicism) or below the percentile 25 (professional fulfillment) were considered the worse levels. Bivariate and Poisson multiple regressions analyses were conducted. A total of 804 teachers participated in the study. After adjustments, bad/fair relationship with students was associated with worse levels in the three BMI dimensions. Insufficient time for family/leisure and bad/fair relationship with students' parents remained significantly associated with higher levels of exhaustion and cynicism. Physical violence, high number of students and bad school infrastructure were associated with worse levels of cynicism, while bad/fair opportunity to express opinions at work with low professional fulfillment. Hostile work environment and other labor factors should be prioritized by policies in order to prevent burnout syndrome among teachers.