Predictors of Job Burnout in Practicing School Psychologists

Abstract

Job burnout in school psychologists has been recognized as a problem in the field for many years. The contributors to burnout are varied and may include personal as well as professional variables. This research examined the impact the demographic variables of age, years in the field/current job, grade level worked with, type of community worked in, salary, school psychologist-to-student ratios, number of annual evaluations/reevaluations typically completed, reported percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch in their district and district size on reported levels of job burnout. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results first indicated that age and years worked in current job predicted an increased sense of Personal Accomplishment as assessed by the MBI. Additionally, a higher number of annual evaluations typically completed was predictive of higher levels of Emotional Exhaustion. Based on the findings of this research, implications for preventing and addressing job burnout in the field are discussed.