Occupational Stress as Predictor of Burnout Tendency of Secondary School Teachers in Rivers State

Abstract

This study sought to examine whether occupational stress predicts burnout tendency of secondary school teachers in Rivers State. The study was guided by three research questions while one null hypothesis was tested at a 0.05 level of significance. A correlational survey research design was used for the study. A multi-stage sampling approach was adopted in selecting a sample size of 1,470 public secondary school teachers, from a population of 7,707 public secondary school teachers in Rivers State. Two standardized instruments: Occupational Stress Inventory for Teachers (OSIT) and Teachers Burnout Tendency Inventory (TBTI) were used for data collection. The questionnaires were administered through a direct delivery approach. Research questions 1-2 were answered using aggregate scores, while research question 3 was answered using linear regression analysis. The null hypothesis was also tested using linear regression analysis. Findings from the study revealed, among others, that secondary school teachers’ occupational stress is a significant predictor of their burnout tendency in secondary schools in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that the school guidance counsellors should organise seminars and counselling sessions to enhance teachers’ understanding of the degree to which occupational stress brings about burnout tendency among school teachers and to assist them to identify and overcome their occupational stress levels.