The Effectiveness of Teachers' Reflective Components in Reducing Social Burnout Syndrome Among Early Primary School Children

Keywords: teacher reflectiveness,, school burnout, early childhood education, ESSBS, classroom climate

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on the effectiveness of developing teachers' reflective competencies in reducing school burnout syndrome in early primary school children. The study involved 40 teachers and 300 pupils from grades I–III across Poland. A quasi-experimental research design with experimental and control groups was applied. Student burnout was assessed using the ESSBS Scale by A. Aypay, adapted to Polish conditions by K. Tomaszek and A. Muchacka-Cymerman. The intervention lasted five months and included reflective workshops, pedagogical supervision sessions, and teachers' reflective journaling. Quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in student burnout levels, especially emotional exhaustion, in the experimental group. Furthermore, qualitative analysis of teachers' reflective journals provided insights into the psychological mechanisms behind these outcomes, highlighting increased awareness of pupils' emotional needs, better emotional self-regulation among teachers, and enhanced pedagogical empathy. The findings confirm that fostering teachers’ reflectiveness is an effective tool for preventing school burnout in children.

References

Aypay, A. (2012). Elementary School Student Burnout Scale for grades 6–8: A study of validity and reliability. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 12(3), 782–787.

Braun, V. i Clarke, V. (2023). Is thematic analysis used well in health psychology? A critical review of published research, with recommendations for quality practice and reporting. Health Psychology Review, 17, 695–718.

Day, C. (2008). Rozwój zawodowy nauczyciela (J. Michalak, tłum.). Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.

Gołębniak, B.D. (2003). Uczenie metodą projektów. Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne.

Hatton, N. i Smith, D. (1995). Reflection in teacher education: Towards definition and implementation. Teaching and Teacher Education, 11(1), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/0742-051X(94)00012-U

Jennings, P.A. i Greenberg, M.T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654308325693

Juczyński, Z. i Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2009). Narzędzia pomiaru stresu i radzenia sobie ze stresem. Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych.

Kaczmarek, M. (2016). Wypalenie szkolne u dzieci i młodzieży. Difin.

Klus-Stańska, D. (2010). Konstruktywistyczne inspiracje w edukacji wczesnoszkolnej. Wydawnictwo Akademickie Żak.

Larrivee, B. (2008). Development of a tool to assess teachers’ level of reflective practice. Reflective Practice, 9(3), 341–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623940802207451

Maslach, C. i Leiter, M.P. (2016). Burnout: A multidimensional perspective. Psychology Press.

Nowak, M. (2021). Klimat szkoły a wypalenie uczniów. Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.

Pianta, R.C. (1999). Enhancing relationships between children and teachers. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10314-000

Pyżalski, J. (2015). Agresja elektroniczna i cyberbullying jako nowe ryzykowne zachowania młodzieży. Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.

Rodgers, C.R. i Raider-Roth, M.B. (2006). Presence in teaching. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 12(3), 265–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/13450600500467474

Salmela-Aro, K., Savolainen, H. i Holopainen, L. (2009). Depressive symptoms and school burnout during adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(10), 1316–1327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9334-3

Schaufeli, W.B. i Bakker, A.B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(3), 293–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.248

Sęk, H. (2016). Wypalenie zawodowe: przyczyny, mechanizmy, zapobieganie. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.

Talik, E. (2011). Specyfika stresu szkolnego. W: D. Borecka-Biernat (red.), Sytuacje trudne w opinii dzieci i młodzieży (s. 21–35). Difin.

Tomaszek, K. (2015). Ryzyko wypalenia szkolnego u uczniów szkół gimnazjalnych. Edukacja – Technika – Informatyka, 6(2), 136–143.

Tomaszek, K. i Muchacka-Cymerman, A. (2018). Adaptacja skali wypalenia szkolnego uczniów ESSBS A. Aypaya na warunki polskie. Edukacja, 147(4), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.24131/3724.180403

Wilsz, J. (2009). Teoria pracy. Implikacje dla pedagogiki pracy. Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.

Zeichner, K.M. i Liston, D.P. (2014). Reflective teaching: An introduction (wyd. 2). Routledge.

Published
2025-12-15
How to Cite
Gaweł-Mirocha, A. M. (2025). The Effectiveness of Teachers’ Reflective Components in Reducing Social Burnout Syndrome Among Early Primary School Children. Elementary Education in Theory and Practice, 20(4(79), 11-24. https://doi.org/10.35765/eetp.2025.2079.01