Teacher burnout and lack of reciprocity

Results are presented of a study on burnout among 249 Dutch elementary and secondary school teachers. The current study considers burnout in terms of the exchange of investments and outcomes at interpersonal (teacher-student) and organizational (teacher-school) levels. In addition, demographic (age and gender) and work-related factors (school type, teaching experience, num ber of hours employed) are included. Findings show that when teachers inves t more than they get back from their school, they report higher levels of e motional exhaustion. As expected, at the interpersonal level, low outcomes from students are related to higher burnout levels; whereas at the organiza tional level, low investments are related to higher burnout levels. These f indings are discussed in terms of the extent to which psychological contact is more intimate or impersonal in both types of relationships.