Introduction

Burnout is a mental (and possibly physical) state related to disillusionement with one’s work. Some jobs are more affected by this than others. Teaching is generally considered a stressful job.

If you search the internet, you can find many articles about it and tips on how to combat it!.

Teacher burnout is not a new phenomenon (Campbell, 1983), and it is being observed around the world. The scale here is a short 20-item self-report questionnaire that gives an indication of how bad it is.

Do the test and write down you score. Then check this table to interpretation your score:

Score Interpretation

20-35

None or few burnout feelings

36-55

Some strong feelings of burnout, but probably not a serious problem

56-70

Substantial burnout feelings, enough that getting some help is suggested

71-100

Severe burnout

If this affects you or a colleague, here are some good links that might help in the UK, help in the USA, help in Australia. Of course, this is a general mental health issue that your primary health care physician/GP will also be able to give advice on — don’t stay alone with your stress!

Run the demo

This scale can be used when acknowledging the original author and citing the paper by Richmond and colleages (2001).

Technically

This is a simple scale item without any reverse scored items.

The survey code for PsyToolkit

Copy and paste this code to your PsyToolkit account if you want to use the scale in your own online research project
scale: agree
- Strongly Disagree
- Disagree
- Neutral
- Agree
- Strongly Agree

l: burnout
t: scale agree
o: random
o: width 50%
q: This measure is designed to determine how you currently feel about your job and its related aspects.<br>
There are no right or wrong answers.<br>
Work quickly and based your answers on your first impression.<br>
Please indicate the degree to which each statement applies to you.<br>
- I am bored with my job.
- I am tired of my students.
- I am weary with all of my job responsibilities.
- My job doesn't excite me any more.
- I dislike going to my job.
- I feel alienated at work.
- I feel frustrated at work.
- I avoid communication with students.
- I avoid communication with my colleagues.
- I communicate in a hostile manner at work.
- I feel ill at work.
- I think about calling my students ugly names.
- I avoid looking at my students.
- My students make me sick.
- I feel sick to my stomach when I think about work.
- I wish people would leave me alone at work.
- I dread going to school.
- I am apathetic about my job.
- I feel stressed at work.
- I have problems concentrating at work.

l: score
t: set
- sum $burnout

l: feedback
t: info
q: The score on this scale is between 20 (low) and 100 (high).<br>
Your score is {$burnout}.<br>
Follow the link at the end of this survey to see what this means.<br>
In the main page are also links where you can find help.<br>

References

  • Campbell, L.P. (1983). Teacher burnout: Description and prescription. The Clearing House, 57, pp. 111-113

  • Richmond, V. P., Wrench, J. S., & Gorham, J. (2001). Communication, affect, and learning in the classroom. Acton, MA: Tapestry Press.