§ Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR) § Vol. VII, No.

III (Summer 2022) § Pages: 32 ‒ 40

§ DOI: 10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-III).04 § URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-III).04
§ L- ISSN: 2520-0348 § p- ISSN: 2520-0348 § e-ISSN: 2616-793X
§ Citation: Sultana, N., & Aurangzeb, W. (2022). Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of
Early Childhood Education Teachers. Global Social Sciences Review, VII(III), 32‒40.
https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-III).04

Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of Early Childhood Education Teachers

Nayyar Sultana * Wajeeha Aurangzeb†

Contents: Abstract: Teachers, particularly those employed in the Early Childhood

Education (ECE) system, suffer from physical and mental stress. The
§ Introduction
combination of an excessive workload and a lack of appreciation leads to job
§ Objectives of the Study burnout and job discontent. Over 70% of ECE teachers worldwide report
§ Research Questions feeling burned out at work. It is necessary to look into the causes of stress and
§ Literature Review how it affects teacher work burnout. The purpose of this study is to examine
the relationship between occupational stress and burnout among Early
§ Research Methodology childhood education teachers. The current study, which mostly focused on
§ Research Design ECE teachers and their difficulties associated with occupations, studied the
§ Sample Size impact of work stress on job burnout. Through the use of a questioner and the
cluster sampling technique, information was gathered from 100 ECE teachers.
§ Conclusion
The findings of this study will assist in understanding the problems and stress
§ References experienced by ECE teachers and in developing a plan to improve their
working conditions.

Key Words: Early Childhood Education (ECE), Psychological Stress, Job Burnout

Introduction interpersonal burnout (Gong, Chen, & Wang,

2019). Job burnout is frequently a response
Professionals who work under a lot of pressure
displayed by people who can't handle a lot of strain
might get physically or mentally exhausted, which
at work. This condition is referred to as being
is referred to as job burnout. Freuden Berger, a
emotionally and behaviorally spent both at work
scholar, initially proposed this idea in 1974. He saw
and at home. Researchers found that people
job burnout as a glaring indicator of the tremendous
working in caring and public-facing professions,
emotional tiredness, irritability, and frustration
like nurses and teachers, frequently experience job
frequently observed among people working in
burnout (Salvagioni et al., 2017).
helping professions like medicine and teaching.
This is frequently described by researchers as a Numerous studies conclude that teachers
psychiatric syndrome that results from sustained especially working in middle schools are among
emotional/physical stress at work as well as those professionals that experience the extreme
pressure of work. Multiple factors in middle schools

*
Lecturer, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Email: [email protected] (Corresponding Author)
†
Associate Professor, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of Early Childhood Education Teachers

like less teacher to student ratio, many performance The rationale of the Study
indicators and the burden of daily tasks develop a
A thorough analysis of the literature reveals that
great degree of psychological pressure in teachers.
stress and pressure on teachers are major problems
This psychological stress often ends at dissatisfaction
in ECE programs. When compared to all other
with work, frustration, absenteeism, and ultimately
occupations, teachers were shown to have one of
employee turnover of these teachers. (Schaack, Le,
the highest levels of work-related stress (Wang et
& Stedron, 2020). The extreme pressure of work
al., 2020). There is a need for in-depth research on
makes the teachers experience numerous adverse
teacher stress as concerns about work-based stress
reactions including psychological (depression and
anxiety), physiological (headache and increase. There are glaring gaps in the existing
hypertension), and behavioral (smoking and sleep literature that demand additional investigation into
problems). All these issues ultimately develop job teachers' resilience as well as ongoing quantitative
burnout in middle school teachers (Al-Adwan & Al- and qualitative research in this area with larger
Khayat, 2017). sample sizes with people from various demographic
and geographic origins (Garcia, 2019). Therefore,
There are many factors that researchers believe
this study will assist in filling all of these research
can be the reason of job burn out in ECE teachers.
gaps as well as assist and inspire several other
Individual capacity, the burden of work and the low
researchers and scholars and students to conduct
student-to-teacher ratio are the most highlighted
related research in this field.
factors among all. Many studies supported the idea
that low individual capacity, high work burden and
low student-to-teacher ratio is directly linked to a Statement of the Problem
higher degree of job burn out as compared to high ECE teachers are reported as dissatisfied, frustrated
individual capacity, low work burden and balanced and overburdened in their workplaces which
student-to-teacher ratio. Given that teachers with ultimately lead to job burnout. It is required to
low self-efficacy experienced higher degrees of job understand the contributing factors of this job
burnout than those with high self-efficacy, many burnout and its impacts on the education sector.
studies have specifically defined the term "job
burnout" as a serious crisis of personal efficacy Objectives of the Study
(Bernal & de la Paz Ferro, 2020).
The study is mainly focused on the following
It was also discovered that, in comparison to
objectives
instructors who had good management abilities,
those who struggled to keep order and discipline in § To analyze the contributing factor of stress
the classroom experienced higher levels of job and job burnout in ECE teachers
burnout. Similar to this, it has also been claimed that § To assess the relationship between stress and
ECE teachers experience job burnout as a result of job burnout in ECE teachers
the tremendous workload of everyday tasks § To highlight the issues experiencing ECE
including maintaining class registers, having a large teachers
number of students to attend, and reviewing their
homework (Kim, Shin, Tsukayama, & Park, Research Questions
2020).Given that stress and work load really induce The study was addressing the following research
job burnout among middle school teachers; I questions
explore this topic to highlight the main issues of
§ Which are the main reasons of stress and job
primary and secondary school teachers and bring
burnout in ECE teachers?
into light the impacts of those issues. Moreover, I
§ How stress is linked to job burnout in ECE
also investigate how workload and stress affects job
teachers?
burnout and how it can be managed. This study
attempts to comprehensively discuss all these issues.

Vol. VII, No. III (Summer 2022) 33

 Nayyar Sultana and Wajeeha Aurangzeb

§ Which issues ECE teachers experience in § Owing to budget and travel constraints I
their job or working? § kept my research area restricted to this
geographical location and sample size.
Significance of the Study
Conceptual Framework/ Theoretical
The study will help the scholars of the field to
understand the reasons behind the high stress and framework
job burnout in ECE teachers. It will also help the Teachers serving in middle schools are often suffer
intellectuals and policymakers to develop an job burnout due to work-related stress. This stress is
effective policy or strategy to resolve the issues of the consequence of excessive work burden and
ECE teachers managing their extreme stress and job dissatisfaction with their jobs. Stress during teacher
burnout. residency impacts teachers' developing career
attitudes and behaviour. Stress from daily hassles and
Delimitations of the Study work burden deeply affects teachers. Prolonged
stress led to severe frustration, irritation and
§ The study was focused to gather data
emotional fatigue. This Emotional exhaustion
through online and physical questioner filled
engulfs the career optimism and dissatisfaction with
by ECE teachers of ASF Public schools of
work that ultimately give rise to job burnout in
Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
these teachers (Taylor, McLean, Bryce, Abry, &
§ 100 teachers (both male and female) were
Granger, 2019).
part of this research

Work burden and job

Work-related Stress in Job burnout in ECE
dissatisfaction in ECE
ECE teachers teachers
teachers

Figure 1: Theoretical Framework to Analyze the Link between Stress and Job Burnout in ECE Teachers

Literature Review Throughout the world, within ECE service

setting, the most common problem that the field
According to studies, stress and pressure among
experience is the high job burnout of teachers. In
ECE teachers is a problem that affects them on a
the year 2017, the annual rate of stressed teachers in
daily basis. According to reports, a number of
ECE program was 70%, in comparison to just 7%
reasons, such as time constraints, a heavy workload,
in other professions. Another research revealed that
problems with school management, and coworkers'
around 82% of ECE teachers who were employed
attitudes, can contribute to teacher stress. Numerous
in the year 1994 and 76% of the ECE teachers who
other non-teaching chores that teachers must
were employed in 1996 quitted their jobs until 2000
perform as well as dealing with parents or guardians
(Redín & Erro-Garcés, 2020).
of pupils who view and treat the school like a child-
minding service have all been identified in earlier In another study based on human service
research as stressors. In reality, stressors included workers, researchers concluded that high burnout of
balancing the multiple demands that are relatively teachers in ECE programs is a result of job related
innate to a particular profession in close conjunction stress that may vary on the basis of (1) numerous
with a lack of respect from society, low demographic factors, both personal as well as work-
compensation, extremely demanding work, and related (2) Individual perceptions about the job,
most crucially, high student-to-teacher ratios including job-related commitments and their
(Diliberti, Schwartz, & Grant, 2004). fulfilments and (3) management quality. Another
subsequent research based on 387 middle school

34 Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR)

Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of Early Childhood Education Teachers

teachers (both male and female) reported that when teachers actually create job satisfaction in teachers
work-based stress went unmanaged, teachers that helps them to avoid job based stress and
usually lost their innate passion and devotion to burnout as job based stress and burnout are closely
their profession which ultimately led to burnout linked (Li et al., 2020). Another similar study
(Grant, Jeon, & Buettner, 2019). showed that psychological stress of a high degree
562 randomly chosen ECE teachers from often causes dissatisfaction in middle school teachers
middle and high schools in urban and rural areas which contributed to high absenteeism and
were included in a cross-sectional survey of public- employee job burnout. In this study 387 teachers of
school teachers that included teachers from both middle school were participants. Data collection
urban and rural areas. This study aimed to identify was done by Maslach Burnout Inventory-General
the link between burnout, psychological stress, and Survey and the results revealed that work stress was
working conditions for teachers. The researchers significantly correlated with job burnout in these
came to the conclusion that psychological stress is a teachers (Yang, Fan, Chen, Hsu, & Chien, 2018).
direct effect of job dissatisfaction and eventually
results in job burnout. The results of this study gave Research Methodology
a solid foundation for the claim that a heavy The study is intended to analyze the effect of stress
workload and ongoing dissatisfaction with one's job on job burnout in ECE teachers. To accomplish this
cause work-related stress and burnout (Boström et goal the study was run to assess the reasons of high
al., 2020). stress in ECE teachers and its impact on burnout in
those teachers.
Friedrich Froebel Theory 1782-1852
Research Design
The idea that young children need their own space
for learning apart from adults, save for the teacher The research was of quantitative in nature. A
and aides, is credited to Froebel, who also founded questionnaire based on closed ended questions was
the kindergarten. Play is the highest expression of used to gather data about contributing factors
human growth in childhood, according to Froebel, which lead to stress in ECE teachers. Then the
as it is the only way for a kid to freely express what gather data was analyzed to investigate the link
is in their spirit. Simply put, he believed that play, between stress and job burnout in these teachers.
especially for young children, was extremely Quantitative research is effective method to hold
essential to the learning process. this type of research and will help to generate results
in a cost-effective manner. Quantitative research is
Maria Montessori Theory 1870–1952 under increasing demands due to its benefits like
rapidly collecting, analyzing, and disseminating the
Teaching the child's senses first, then his or her
results of the findings. Moreover, the advantages
brain, was Montessori's two-pronged approach to
like less time, reduced cost and high amount of
early childhood education. Her strategy was to see
collected data make it more attractive.. (Vindrola-
the teachers or educators as social engineers and the
Padros & Johnson, 2020), In this study dependent
kids as information providers. For many students
variable was job burnout of ECE teachers and the
who did not respond well to conventional
independent variables were job stress and its
classroom techniques, her hands-on approach to
contributing factors.
instruction, in which the learning environment is
viewed as crucial as the content itself, has
Population of Study
revolutionized academic achievement.
Adding to this argument, another study The research is based on ECE teachers. So, the
proposed that a better working environment and questioner was filled by 100 ECE teachers of ASF
good management skills of administration and Public School Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore of
Pakistan. All ECE teachers of were part of this study.

Vol. VII, No. III (Summer 2022) 35

 Nayyar Sultana and Wajeeha Aurangzeb

Sample Size So the size of the sample was 23 individuals

according to L.R. Gay table.
23 ECE teachers were the participants of this study.

Table 1.
Area School Teachers
Islamabad ASF public School 35
Karachi ASF public School 35
Lahore ASF public School 30
Total 100

Sampling Techniques confidential and used only for research purpose.

Cluster sampling technique was used for collecting
Data Analysis
data. Three of the schools were made clusters and
take their ECE teacher as sample. After collecting the data, the data analyzed through
descriptive as well as inferential statistics through
Data Collection SPSS. This analysis of variance is a collection of
statistical models and their linked estimation
Participants filled a questionnaire. First their
mechanisms applied to measure the differences
consent was obtained by completely telling them
among means of the values. This statistical analysis
the nature and objective of the study. After that, the
helped to generate results and compare them with
individuals who agreed to be the part of this study
each other and finally assist to formulate a strong
were provided by questionnaire link. Each
idea about contributing factors of stress and its link
individual filled its form independently. All
with job burnout in ECE teachers.
provided data and information kept private and

Results and Discussion

Table 2. Responses of the Teachers on Questionnaire
Questions Strongly Strongly
Agree Disagree
Agree(11) Disagree
Do you feel excessive work burden? 21.1% 57.9% 21.1% 0%
Are you satisfied with your job? 10.5% 68.4% 15.8% 5.3%
Is society gives you proper appreciation of your
15.8% 31.6% 47.4% 5.3%
work?
Do you suffer headache often? 21.1% 52.6% 15.8% 10.5%
Do you think you have enough sleep? 5.3% 42.1% 36.8% 5.3%
Are you often frustrated at work/home? 15.8% 57.9% 15.8% 10.5%
Would you like to change your profession if you get
42.1% 31.6% 15.8% 10.5%
opportunity?
Have you ever think to quit the job? 15.8% 31.6% 47.4% 5.3%
Is your pay appropriate against your work? 10.5% 31.6% 36.8% 21.1%
Is the duration of working is appropriate or long? 21.1% 52.6% 21.1% 5.3%
Do you easily manage your class? 31.6% 36.8% 21.1% 10.5%
Is number of students high in class? 5.3% 47.4% 42.1% 5.3%
Do you feel stress of work? 21.1% 36.8% 36.8% 5.3%

36 Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR)

Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of Early Childhood Education Teachers

Do you suggest others to join your profession? 31.6% 47.4% 21.1% 0%

Do you think it is a dream job? 21.1% 31.6% 31.6% 15.8%

Table3. Summary Frequency Table for Likert-Type Scale Items Used to Evaluate job Stress
Items Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
M
(Frequency) (Frequency) (Frequency) (Frequency)
Do you feel excessive
4 11 4 0 6.33
work burden?
Are you satisfied with
2 13 3 1 4.75
your job?
Is society gives you proper
appreciation of your 3 6 9 1 4.75
work?
Do you suffer headache
4 10 3 2 4.75
often?
Do you think you have
1 8 7 3 4.75
enough sleep?
Are you often frustrated at
3 11 3 2 4.75
work/home?
Would you like to change
your profession if you get 8 6 3 2 4.75
opportunity?
Have you ever think to
3 6 9 1 4.75
quit the job?
Is your pay appropriate
2 6 7 4 4.75
against your work?
Is the duration of working
4 10 4 1 4.75
is appropriate or long?
Do you easily manage
6 7 4 2 4.75
your class?
Is number of students high
1 9 8 1 4.75
in class?
Do you feel stress of work? 4 7 7 1 4.75
Do you suggest others to
6 9 4 0 4.75
join your profession?
Do you think it is a dream
4 6 6 3 4.75
job?

The findings of this study revealed that teacher Around 47% agreed with the notion that society is
burnout is high, particularly for depersonalization not giving them appropriate appreciation of work.
and personal success approaches. This clearly Around 70% teachers often suffer headache and
demonstrates that instructors are constantly around 50% have insufficient sleep. 57% teachers
confronted with issues that can lead to burnout. said that they are frustrated in their workplace as
There is an argument that instructors' inability to well as at home. Around 30% teachers said the
perform adequately, particularly in private working duration is not appropriate. All these
institutions, is the most significant factor findings showed the dissatisfaction of these teachers
contributing to burnout. Results showed that more with the job.
than 50% of teachers feel excessive work burden.

Vol. VII, No. III (Summer 2022) 37

 Nayyar Sultana and Wajeeha Aurangzeb

Moreover, the wish to change the profession is Moreover, a study focused on middle school
high when a professional is not satisfied with the teachers issues reported that only 10% of teachers
profession. In this study 70% teachers showed their are doing their work happily and satisfied with
willingness to change the profession whenever they work conditions while 90% of teachers are doing
get the chance. Another factor that tells the issue in their work just to earn money and not satisfied with
working is the high student ratio and management their profession due to its massive issues including
problem in class. More than 50% teachers said there excessive work burden, class management issues and
is a higher number of students in class and 30% of high number of students in a class (Braun, Roeser,
teachers said they experience issues in managing Mashburn, & Skinner, 2019).
class. This percentage shows high pressure of work
on these teachers. Conclusion
The second last question of question directly To summarize, teacher burnout is a harmful factor
asks the teachers if they feel the stress of work and in today's educational system, and its consequences
50% were agreed that they are stressed. In a more should not be underestimated. Burnout, which is
relatable question "is your job a dream job" 50% marked by emotional weariness, depersonalization,
teachers were disagreed and 21% disagreed to and a decrease in teacher efficacy, puts at risk
suggest others to select this profession in the future. educational quality by causing early attrition and
All this data shows teachers are stressed and burnout productivity loss. The primary goal of this study was
in their job. to look into the degrees of psychological burnout
The second question of the study showed a among early childhood instructors in both public
different result where more than 70% teachers said and private schools. We conducted literature
they are satisfied with their job. When they were research, polled working professionals, and
asked about it, they explained that though they feel consulted experts before statistically testing the
stress and work burden but due to high measure. In addition, we gather data from 18
unemployment they are satisfied that they have at teachers to learn about the key causes of teacher
least a work to earn the money for their family. burnout from their own perspectives. It is
This is based on the fact that teachers have long recommended that issues of teachers must be
working hours, have more students in each class, resolved to improve their working ability.
and feel the excessive pressure of work. They wish
to change the profession but high unemployment Recommendations
rates, according to the researcher, may push these 1. More qualitative research must be conducted
teachers to cope with their stress in order to win to discover and examine additional factors
bread and butter. These findings are in accordance that can lead to burnout.
with other study that reported teachers' burnout is 2. The researchers urge that teachers' issues
real but due to financial stress, they are restrained to must be resolved to manage their dis
continue their work (Skillern, 1990). Another satisfaction with work.
similar study showed that the massive work 3. To rationalize the ability to meet work
responsibilities, the number of lessons per day and requirements, increase the number of
the number of students in classrooms have a teachers in the private sector.
negative impact on the environment and 4. Provide psychological and social counselors
teachers. The performance of teachers, particularly to schools to assist teachers in overcoming
in the private sector is badly affected badly by all work-related issues that could lead to
these factors. But they are forced to work due to burnout.
their financial needs. (Reglin & Reitzammer, 1998)

38 Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR)

Effect of Job Stress on Job Burnout of Early Childhood Education Teachers

References preschool teachers. BMC Public Health,

20(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-
Al-Adwan, Fatima, E. Z., & Al-Khayat, M. M.
020-8287-7
(2017). Psychological Burnout in Early
Redín, C. I., & Erro-Garcés, A. (2020). Stress in
Childhood Teachers: Levels and Reasons.
teaching professionals across Europe.
International Education Studies, 10(1), 179-
International Journal of Educational Research,
189. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ies.v10n1p179
103, 101623.
Boström, M., Björklund, C., Bergström, G.,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2020.101623
Nybergh, L., Schäfer E., Liselotte, S, Kjerstin,
Reglin, G., & Reitzammer, A. (1998). Dealing with
K. L. (2020). Health and work environment
the stress of teachers. Education, 118(4), 590-
among female and male Swedish elementary
597.
school teachers—A cross-sectional study.
Salvagioni, D., Albieri J., Melanda, F., Nesello, M.,
International journal of environmental
Arthur, E., González, A., Durán, G., Flávia, L.,
research and public health, 17(1), 227.
& Andrade, S. M. (2017). Physical,
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010227
psychological and occupational consequences
Braun, S. S., Roeser, R. W, Mashburn, A. J., &
of job burnout: A systematic review of
Skinner, E. (2019). Middle school teachers’
prospective studies. PloS one, 12(10),
mindfulness, occupational health and well-
e0185781.
being, and the quality of teacher-student
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781
interactions. Mindfulness, 10(2), 245-255.
Schaack, D. D., Le, V. N., & Stedron, J. (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-0968-2
When fulfillment is not enough: Early
Diliberti, M. K., Schwartz, H. L., & Grant, D. M.
childhood teacher occupational burnout and
(2021). Stress Topped the Reasons Why
turnover intentions from a job demands and
Public School Teachers Quit, Even Before
resources perspective. Early Education and
COVID-19: RAND.
Development, 31(7), 1011-1030.
Garcia, A. (2019). A call for healing teachers: Loss,
https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1791648
ideological unraveling, and the healing gap.
Taylor, Michelle, McLean, Leigh, Bryce, Crystal I,
Schools, 16(1), 64-83.
Abry, Tashia, & Granger, Kristen L. (2019).
Gong, Z., Chen, Y., & Wang, Y. (2019). The
The influence of multiple life stressors during
influence of emotional intelligence on job
Teacher Training on Burnout and Career
burnout and job performance: Mediating
Optimism in the first year of teaching.
effect of psychological capital. Frontiers in
Teaching and Teacher Education, 86, 102910.
psychology, 10, 2707.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2019.102910
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02707
Vindrola-Padros, Cecilia, & Johnson, Ginger A.
Grant, A. A., Jeon, L., & Buettner, C. K. (2019).
(2020). Rapid techniques in qualitative
Relating early childhood teachers’ working
research: A critical review of the literature.
conditions and well-being to their turnover
Qualitative Health Research, 30(10), 1596-
intentions. Educational Psychology, 39(3),
1604.
294-312.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320921835
https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2018.1543856
Wang, P., Chu, P., Wang, J., Pan, Runsheng, S.,
Kim, J., Shin, Y., Tsukayama, E., & Park, D.
Yu, Yan, M., & Zhang, D. (2020). Association
(2020). A stress mindset predicts job turnover
between job stress and organizational
among preschool teachers. Journal of School
commitment in three types of Chinese
Psychology, 78, 13-22.
university teachers: Mediating effects of job
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2019.11.002
burnout and job satisfaction. Frontiers in
Li, S., Li, Y., Lv, H., Jiang, R., Zhao, P., Zheng,
psychology, 11.
X., & Mao, F. (2020). The prevalence and
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.576768
correlates of burnout among Chinese

Vol. VII, No. III (Summer 2022) 39

 Nayyar Sultana and Wajeeha Aurangzeb

Yang, C. C., Fan, C. W., Chen, K. M,, Hsu, S. C., intention. The Asia-Pacific Education
& Chien, C. L. (2018). As a happy Researcher, 27(6), 431-440.
kindergarten teacher: the mediating effect of https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-018-0403-4
happiness between role stress and turnover

40 Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR)