Stress is a constant that individuals face both in their private and professional lives. It is influenced by many factors that are intertwined. It is important to deal with stress in a constructive way, otherwise it can lead to burnout.
In the research, we compared the occupational stress of special and rehabilitation pedagogues working in developmental outpatient clinics with early intervention centres and the stress of special and rehabilitation pedagogues working in mobile special education services.
We used a descriptive and casual non-experimental research method and a quantitative approach. The research was conducted on a non-random sample of special and rehabilitation pedagogues in developmental outpatient clinics (N=20) and special and rehabilitation pedagogues in mobile special education services (N=36). An anonymous survey was sent via email to the special and rehabilitation pedagogues in developmental outpatient clinics and to the email addresses of two schools where the mobile special education service operates.
The results show that special and rehabilitation pedagogues in developmental outpatient clinics rate their profession as more stressful compared to special and rehabilitation pedagogues in mobile special education services; however, the differences are not statistically significant. There are also no statistically significant differences between the two groups in perceiving work environment, work relationships and managing professional demands and private life as stressful. The most burdening factors for both groups are administrative work, excessive number of children, time pressure and work overload. The length of service does not have a statistically significant effect on experience of stress for both groups. Mobile special education teachers who work in three or more locations find their work environment more stressful compared to those who work in less than three locations.
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