Burnout Syndrome Dimensions as Perceived by Kindergarten Teachers and Elementary School Teachers in Greece

The present article seeks to explore the dimensions of occupational exhaustion of primary education teachers (kindergarten and elementary school teachers), making use of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as its research tool. The data on which the article is based were drawn from a study carried out in an urban area in Greece investigating the following three issues: (1) Are there variations in the dimensions of occupational exhaustion detected? (2) Are there any differences in the dimensions of occupational exhaustion detected between kindergarten and elementary school teachers? (3) Are there any differences in the dimensions of burnout in regard to demographic characteristics? The data was collected through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The analysis of the findings shows moderate and high differences in the dimensions of the burnout syndrome. In particular, the scale of emotional burnout appears to be on moderate-high levels, the depersonalization scale shows moderate levels, and the personal accomplishment scale indicates high levels. Elementary school teachers seem to experience occupational exhaustion syndrome more intensely, while kindergarten teachers demonstrate higher levels on the personal accomplishment scale. Furthermore, certain demographic characteristics, such as gender, the teaching experience of teachers, and their overall satisfaction with their earned income, seem to be related to occupational burnout syndrome.