The correlation between creativity and burnout in public school classroom teachers

Abstract

Landeche, Patricia, B.A., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1960 Master of Social Work, Summer Commencement, 2009 Major: Social Work The Correlation Between Creativity and Burnout in Public School Classroom Teachers Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Elaine M. Maccio Pages in thesis 48. Words in Abstract 162. ABSTRACT Burnout of teachers in the public schools is affecting the quality of education the students are getting. Incorporating creativity into one’s life on a regular basis produces has the potential to heal both physical and emotional complaints. The hypothesis of this study is that there is a negative correlation between creativity and the intensity of the symptoms of burnout in teachers. An exploratory/descriptive study utilizing a non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used with a non-probability sample of 19 classroom teachers. A survey was given to public school classroom teachers in two schools in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. There were no correlations found between creativity and any of the aspects of burnout that were tested (i.e., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment), perhaps due to the small sample size. However, there was a correlation between years of experience and depersonalization, one of the components of burnout (r = -.496, p < .05). More objective research still needs to be done, particularly longitudinal studies.