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Correlation between burnout syndrome and psychological and psychosomatic symptoms among teachers

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Abstract

Objectives: Psychosomatic disorders and symptoms that correlate with the so-called burnout syndrome turned out to be the main cause of increasing rates of premature retirement of school teachers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between occupational burden and psychological strain of teachers who are still in work. Methods: A sample of 408 teachers at ten grammar schools (am: High school; German: Gymnasium) in south-western Germany was evaluated. To determine the styles of coping with occupational burden we used the measure of coping capacity questionnaire (MECCA). To analyse the psychopathological and psychosomatic symptom load we applied SCL 90 R questionnaire. Results: According to the MECCA questionnaire, 32.5% of the sample suffered from burnout (type B), 17.7% suffered severe strain (type A), 35.9% showed an unambitious (type S) and 13.8% showed a healthy-ambitious coping style (type G). Burnout was significantly higher among women, divorced teachers and teachers working part-time. As part of the MECCA, teachers were asked to rate what they regarded as the strongest factor resulting in occupational burden. Teachers indicated that, besides high numbers of pupils in one class, they regarded destructive and aggressive behaviour of pupils as the primary stress factor. According to the SCL 90 R, 20% of the sample showed a severe degree (defined as >70 points in the SCL90R GSI) of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms. MECCA type B (burnout) correlated significantly with high psychological and psychosomatic symptom load according to the SCL90R. Conclusions: In school teachers, burnout syndrome, a construct that derived from occupational psychology and occupational medicine, is significantly correlated with psychological and psychosomatic symptoms. Teachers rate destructive and aggressive behaviour of pupils as the primary stress factor.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Levente Kriston for statistical help. Thanks go also to Rosemarie Stürmlinger and Günther Weng for their support in getting access to schools and for their valuable general advice. Last but not least, the authors are grateful to Ms Christiane Carrell, a native speaker, for reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Uniklinikum Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 8, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Joachim Bauer, Axel Stamm, Katharina Virnich, Karen Wissing & Michael Wirsching

  2. Oberschulamt Freiburg, Eisenbahnstrasse 68, 79098, Freiburg, Germany

    Udo Müller

  3. Institut für Psychologie, Universität Potsdam, Karl Liebknecht Strasse 24-25, 14415, Potsdam, Germany

    Uwe Schaarschmidt

Authors
  1. Joachim Bauer
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  2. Axel Stamm
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  3. Katharina Virnich
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  4. Karen Wissing
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  5. Udo Müller
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  6. Michael Wirsching
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  7. Uwe Schaarschmidt
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Correspondence to Joachim Bauer.

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Bauer, J., Stamm, A., Virnich, K. et al. Correlation between burnout syndrome and psychological and psychosomatic symptoms among teachers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 79, 199–204 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0050-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0050-y

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