The Relationship between the Burnout Levels of Music Teachers and Their Personalities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the burnout levels of music teachers and their personalities. The research consisted of 278 music teachers who were selected from various places throughout Turkey via subjective, convenience sampling method. For data collection, the ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Adjective Based Personality Test’ and ‘Maslach Burnout Scale’ were used. The research involved both quantitative and qualitative dimensions. The data were analyzed by quantitative t-test, multiple regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Data for the qualitative dimension of the research were obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with 5 music teachers. Negative, significant relationships were determined between extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness and general burnout, while a positive, significant relationship was determined between neuroticism and general burnout. The burnout variable was found to have a statistically significant effect on the openness, neuroticism and conscientiousness dimensions of the personality types. The effects of conscientiousness and openness dimensions were not, however, found to be significant. The music teachers who had characteristics of extroversion and conscientiousness were found to have higher levels of burnout if they have the characteristics of neuroticism that reduce their exhaustion. The findings of the research show that the effect of personality types on burnout is important.