A Study on Primary School Teacher Burnout Levels: The Northern Cyprus Case

The study population included the 1482 teachers who were working at the 98 schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education and Culture in Lefkosa, Girne, Gazimagusa and Guzelyurt during the 2007-2008 academic year. The sample comprised 196 teachers from 14 of these schools which were selected randomly. Data was collected by using the (1) Personal Information Form developed by the researcher, and the (2) Maslach Burnout Inventory developed by Maslach and Jackson (1981). The inventory was adapted to and tested for validity and reliability. Ergin used it to measure burnout levels in doctors and nurses. As the dual comparisons of the data with respect to independent variables met parametric test assumptions, analysis was performed by independent groups t-test. According to the results of the independent groups t-test done on total points, no meaningful difference was seen between male and female teachers' views about Emotional Exhaustion, Apathy and Personal Success Levels. According to the marital status of teachers, teachers in both groups had similar views about Emotional Exhaustion, Apathy and Personal Success and no meaningful difference was seen. Teacher burnout with respect to choice of profession yielded a meaningful difference at the level p less than 0,05 in the subdimension of Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Success. In addition, considering the low burnout levels in teachers who choose the profession on their own will shows that only those who really wish to do the profession should be hired to do it. (Contains 3 tables.)