CARE for Teachers: The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance on Burnout

• In Event: 15.061 - MTCC Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: 15.061-5 - Am I OK? Teachers' Anxiety, Emotions, and Mindfulness

Abstract

Without proactive coping skills, the stress teachers face may manifest in three facets of burnout (i.e., feelings of emotional exhaustion, cynicism towards students, and lack of personal accomplishment), potentially resulting in a lessened sense of physical and mental well-being or attrition. Evidence indicates mindful awareness decreases feelings of burnout; however, it is unclear what mechanisms drive this relationship. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between mindfulness and the aspects of burnout via the mediating factor: distress tolerance. While results suggest distress tolerance mediates the relationship between mindfulness and emotional exhaustion, other factors above and beyond distress tolerance may mitigate the relationship between mindfulness and other facets such as depersonalization and sense of personal accomplishment.

Authors

• Lamiya Khan, The Pennsylvania State University

• Kimberly Marie Kohler, The Pennsylvania State University

• Jennifer L Frank, Penn State - Educational Psychology Counseling & S