Kumar, Simon David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9045-2446 (2022) The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Burnout in Pre-Service Primary School Teachers. Doctoral thesis, York St John University.

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Abstract

Teaching is a stressful profession characterised by exceptional personal and professional demands. These demands have led to an increasing number of teachers leaving the profession, particularly early career teachers. Research suggests that burnout maybe a major contributing factor to this exodus. Burnout is the result of chronic stress and among teachers may arise due to high workload, poor student behaviour, unrealistic deadlines and school bureaucracy. It can also result from personal characteristics such as perfectionistic personal demands and perceived perfectionistic pressures from others to be an exceptional, flawless, and perfect teacher. The relationship between burnout and perfectionism has been examined in different contexts, however, the relationship has not been examined in pre-service trainee primary teachers – novice teachers attempting to balance multiple demands as new teachers and students while also attempting to “make the grade” and enter the profession. The aim of the thesis was to extend previous research and examine the relationship between perfectionism (trait and perfectionistic styles) and burnout in pre-service primary teachers. To do so, three studies were conducted. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study which examined two questions; (1) does perfectionistic self-presentation style (PSP) predict burnout in pre-service teachers, and (2) does PSP predict changes in burnout symptoms in pre-service teachers after taking into account trait perfectionism? Study 2 had the same research questions, but adopted a longitudinal design and assessed the relationships over time. Study 3 was a qualitative study that used semi-structured life narrative interviews. Participants discussed perfectionism and burnout and reflected on the life events of an academic year. The findings of the thesis suggest that being perfectionistic is problematic in pre-service teachers and will likely make them vulnerable to burnout. The novel findings of the thesis are discussed in regards to implications for the university teacher training environment, primary schools, and teachers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General)
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/8865

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