Wypalenie zawodowe w opinii wybranych grup nauczycieli religii

Abstract

The work of a religion teacher involves constant contact with the students, parents, principals, other teachers, local parish priests and other ecclesiastics; this exposure increasingly often proves to be stress-inducing. It can also engender a sense of physical and mental fatigue. Therefore, teachers of religion constitute a professional group at high risk of professional burnout. The analysis undertaken in this paper aims to demonstrate how selected groups of religion teachers approach various aspects of professional burnout. The respondents involved in the study included teachers of religion from the Archdiocese of Warmia and the Diocese of Opole. The investigations relied on the diagnostic survey methodology, using the pertinent survey technique. An authorial questionnaire served as the principal tool of research. The respondents correctly identify different aspects of professional burnout. The opinions of the surveyed religion teachers are consistent with the findings of psychologists and educational experts. Respondents not only aptly define professional burnout, but also report the diverse determining factors behind it. Among other things, the latter include long-term stress related to teaching and behavioural support duties, poor cooperation between parents and religion teachers as well as a lack of commitment to religious instruction on the part of the students. Respondents are able to enumerate readily noticeable physical and psychological symptoms, as well as suggest preventive measures.