Stress is something that very few of us escape - something that we probably all have to think about as it follows us every day. To a certain extent stress enables us to adapt to continuous life changes. However, problems arise when we are exposed to it for longer periods of time. In such cases, stress can lead to burnout. Occupational burnout develops gradually as an answer to continuous pressure in the workplace. It has a negative effect on the body and puts our health at risk. The body starts sending out warning signals to remind us of its burnout condition, and if we choose to ignore these signals, we can risk adrenal burnout. The work of preschool teachers is demanding and can lead to work-related stress and burnout. Preschool teachers plan, carry out and evaluate the educational process while being involved in a constant and intense relationship with children, parents, coworkers, and other members of the pedagogical team. At the same time, it is required of preschool teachers to participate in continuous professional learning during their entire careers.
All these factors most definitely contribute to the eventual burnout. Among other factors of stress that may contribute to burnout among preschool teachers and make them question their own efficiency are also the requirements of parents and the environment which carefully monitors and assesses their teaching skills. The purpose of this graduation thesis is to expose the problem of occupational burnout among preschool teachers and to check for the presence of burnout signs that they might display. I have conducted this survey among preschool teachers working in kindergartens in and around Ljubljana. The survey found that some respondents (17,6 %) have shown more than a third of burnout signs in the last 12 months. More than half of the respondents (56 %) believe that their workload is constantly on the increase while more than a quarter of the respondents (26,5 %) believe that they only sometimes manage to carry out all their assignments during the working time. The survey results have shown that the majority of preschool teachers participating in the survey do not allow their feelings of tiredness to interfere with their work. On the basis of the survey results, it might be concluded that the majority of the respondents do not show major signs of stress, and that they would definitely choose the same profession again.
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