Risk of Burnout and Its Management Among Special Education Professionals

Abstract

Special education professionals play a pivotal role in supporting students with diverse needs, and their job-related demands encompass a wide range of responsibilities such as lesson planning, behavior management, and teacher-parent collaboration. When they perceive their resources and coping mechanisms are insufficient to meet the demands of their profession, excessive levels of stress can result in burnout. Burnout may have multifaceted adverse impacts on psychological-physical health and the teaching environment. Thus, understanding the underlying classroom-level, school-related, and individual factors is important to develop effective strategies for burnout prevention and management. Various factors can act as protective mechanisms against burnout such as emotion regulation skills, flexible coping strategies, and the reduction of ineffective coping mechanisms. By implementing proactive measures and interventions, workplaces may create environments that prioritize special education professionals' well-being, fostering resilience and preventing the onset of burnout.