A study by Dublin City University (DCU) highlights burnout as a major concern for teachers in Ireland’s primary and secondary education sectors. The findings reveal that a large portion of teachers are experiencing significant burnout, underscoring the need for immediate intervention and support.
According to the initial results, 86% of teachers reported moderate to high levels of Personal Burnout, and 85% experienced moderate to high levels of Work-Related Burnout. Additionally, when asked to evaluate their mental health over the past year, 28% of teachers rated it as poor or very poor. Alarmingly, 83% of respondents reported receiving no training on managing personal wellbeing or mental health, despite the clear mental health challenges.
The survey also showed that 17% of teachers who rated their mental health as poor or very poor felt that this negatively impacted their ability to engage effectively with students. The study found no significant links between burnout and factors such as age, gender, having children, or teaching experience. Instead, the results suggest that systemic and organizational issues—such as heavy workload, parental expectations, school culture, and challenges with students with special educational needs (SEN)—are likely contributing to burnout.
Furthermore, the study revealed that 42% of teachers are unlikely to stay in the profession long-term, indicating a serious retention problem.
This research, led by Dr. Sabrina Fitzsimons, Dr. Pia O’Farrell, and Professor Catherine Furlong at DCU’s Centre for Collaborative Research Across Teacher Education (DCU CREATE), involved over 1,000 teachers and is the largest study of its kind in Ireland. The findings align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of burnout as a result of prolonged stress, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment.
The ongoing study aims to improve teacher wellbeing and retention by identifying the main causes of burnout and poor mental health in educators, emphasizing the need for targeted support to address these challenges.
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