Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and eating habits of secondary school teachers

Resumen

The purpose of the study was to examine the presence of burnout syndrome and its relationship with eating habits in a sample of 109 secondary school teachers from Spain. The participants of this ex-post facto study were 109 Spanish teachers. Data were collected at the end of one school year. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout syndrome. Eating habits were assessed with a survey developed for this study. Results obtained showed: (1) high rates of the syndrome (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment); (2) positive correlations between unhealthy eating habits and burnout, (3) impact of burnout on eating habits; (4) predictor value of burnout levels on healthy or unhealthy eating habits, (5) the impact of some sociodemographic and environmental variables on burnout. Empirical and practical implications for the promotion of health and quality of working life of teachers and educational centers are suggested. Suggestions on intervention and prevention strategies and further research are included.