Examining Burnout and the Relationships Between Job Characteristics, Engagement, and Turnover Intention Among U.S. Educators

Abstract

As a modern epidemic, burnout is the leading reason educators leave the profession. Guided by the job demands–resources theory, this study empirically examines the underlying processes associated with burnout and the direct relationships between job characteristics (i.e., job demands and job resources), turnover intention, and work engagement among a U.S. sample of educators ( n = 855). Although both job demands and job resources were positively related to work engagement, job demands had a stronger influence. Job demands and job resources were related to burnout; however, job resources had a stronger effect. Burnout mediated the relationship between job demands and work engagement as well as job resources and turnover intention. This study shows that job demands and job resources play an important role in burnout and work engagement. As a workplace phenomenon, addressing burnout requires leaders and managers to create organizational strategies that strengthen and support the work environment. Findings from this study may help inform practice and policy changes, including the intentional development of supportive work environments, carefully crafted positions with person-fit in mind, and effective monitored paid time off policies and processes. Other recommendations and future research are also offered.

The impact of work engagement and meaningful work to alleviate job burnout among social workers in New Zealand

“…For instance, Franco et al (2021) indicated that when teachers find themselves pressured by school authorities to act in a certain way, they are more likely to feel more exhausted and adopt more cynical attitudes toward their students. Similar results are found in D'Amico et al (2020), Russell et al (2020). In other words, there is a possibility that social workers experiencing JBO do not manifest all three aforementioned symptoms.…”

“…In this regard, we have seen from other literature such as Bakker and de Vries (2020), Russell et al. (2020), Khaksar et al.…”

“…In this regard, we have seen from other literature such as Bakker and de Vries (2020), Russell et al (2020), Khaksar et al (2019) that the combination of high job demands and low job resources represents a high-stress work environment which may eventually lead to JBO.…”

Job Demand, Job Resources, Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Lecturers in Private Higher Institutions in Sabah

“…The author observed significant exhaustion and depleted motivation among the volunteers. Burnout has become a modern pandemic and is the primary cause of the increasing turnover rate among educators (Russell et al, 2020). Previous studies classified its causes into three categories based on the Job Demands-Resources model: job demands, job resources, and personal characteristics.…”

The Interrelationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, and Burnout Among Foreign Language Teachers: A Meta-Analytic Review

“…As a global concern, teacher burnout has been linked to a range of adverse outcomes across every stage of teachers’ careers ( Aloe et al, 2014 ). For example, teachers with burnout often report co-morbid psychological symptoms ( Wang et al, 2021 ), decreased job satisfaction ( Skaalvik and Skaalvik, 2009 ), and turnover intention ( Russell et al, 2020 ).…”