New Perspectives in Science Education

A social support is important protective factor against a chronic stress which can cause a burnout syndrome. The social support can be considered as a specific coping strategy. Within teachers occupation, the professional social support is the crucial factor especially, because teachers work in strongly individualized settings with lack of communication with colleagues. Our research was focused on the level of burnout syndrome among grammar schools teachers and its correlation with social support. Our research was designed as mix-methodology, including quantitative survey (N=2394) and case studies at 12 grammar schools (N=232). In survey, a correlation design was used with three instruments: 1) Shirom-Melamed Burnout Scale, 2) ENRICHD SSI, 3) SVF78. The results show a significant correlation between burnout syndrome and social support and also between burnout syndrome and coping styles. In the paper, the results will be discussed in more details with practical and theoretical consequences.

Keywords: Burnout syndrome, social support, coping strategies, teachers;