Vocational burnout and life satisfaction in primary school teachers

This study aims to examine the relationships between creativity levels, life satisfaction, and professional burnout among primary school teachers using the correlational survey method. The research is conducted in the population of 700 teachers working in primary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the Kumluca district of Antalya province. The sample consists of 240 primary school teachers selected through proportional sampling method. Participants were asked to voluntarily participate in the research and were informed about confidentiality. Life satisfaction scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory were administered to the participants. The life satisfaction scale was used to evaluate participants' overall level of life satisfaction. The Maslach Burnout Inventory is a scale used to assess burnout syndrome and is evaluated in three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The collected data were analyzed using relevant statistical methods. The researcher examined the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables using the correlational survey method and drew conclusions through statistical analysis. The results indicate that creativity levels of primary school teachers have an impact on their life satisfaction and professional burnout. Common symptoms of professional burnout among teachers include fatigue, low energy, lack of motivation, job indifference, emotional exhaustion, decreased emotional reactions, anger, restlessness, impatience, decreased job performance, and feelings of inefficacy. Additionally, teachers may experience professional dissatisfaction, discontentment, and thoughts of leaving their job or changing their profession. On the other hand, indicators of life satisfaction include overall happiness, feeling satisfied, frequency of positive emotions and enjoyable activities, inner peace, presence of balance, positive relationships, supportive social networks, personal accomplishment, and fulfillment of goals. These findings shed light on the symptoms and effects experienced by teachers regarding professional burnout and life satisfaction. This study contributes to our understanding of the relationships between creativity levels, life satisfaction, and professional burnout among primary school teachers. The findings provide valuable insights into the challenges and positive impacts teachers experience in their professional lives. Furthermore, this study is believed to contribute to the development of interventions aimed at increasing teachers' professional satisfaction and reducing burnout. Keywords: Teacher, Burnout, Life Satisfaction