Relationship between professional burnout in teachers and their attitude towards their health and healthy lifestyle

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been growing concern among researchers about the health status of teachers due to their professional activities. Objective - to investigate the relationship of professional burnout (PB) in teachers towards their attitude to their own health and healthy lifestyle. Subject and methods. A total of 317 teachers (26 men and 291 women) were examined. The program encompassed a medical examination, rapid diagnosis of the stress level (L. Reeder), diagnosis of the level of emotional exhaustion (burnout) according to the questionnaire designed by V.V. Boiko, and a survey using the questionnaire that included a sociodemographic unit and questions about health attitudes. Results. Analysis of the teachers’ health self-assessment showed that 23% of women and 35% of men rated their health as good and very good; 70% of women and 62% of men regarded as satisfactory; and the remaining considered as bad. Health self-assessment decreased with higher levels of burnout. The results showed a low level of physical activity in the teachers, non-compliance with the work and rest regime, inability to manage their emotions and cope with stress, low competence in a balanced diet, and the presence of bad habits (smoking and alcohol). The number of alcohol abusers is growing in the group of women with higher PB. The women were statistically significantly ascertained to have a lower regular physical activity with a higher level of PB. Conclusion. The results show that PB has an adverse impact on health self-assessment, health attitudes, and healthy lifestyle behavior. In order to prevent PB, it is recommended that a package of preventive measures should be developed.