BURNOUT IN SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHERS AT KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF PERSONAL RESOURCES AND WORK WELLBEING

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine, within an integrative predictive model, the relative contributions of sociodemographic variables, personal resources, and work wellbeing to teacher burnout. The research was conducted with special education teachers at Italian preschools—a context in which few previous studies have been carried out—and primary schools. A cross-sectional survey-based study with a sample of 194 kindergarten and primary school teachers was conducted. The results indicated that teachers’ happiness at school and job satisfaction incrementally predicted variance in personal, work-related, and student-related burnout, even after controlling for the effects of sociodemographic factors and personal resources. Furthermore, the final integrative predictive model was similar for both kindergarten and primary teachers.