Burnout in the teaching profession: a study at the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana Sede Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract

The most productive organizations invest in their human capital and implement strategies to reduce levels of stress and fatigue at work.  Burnout affects many countries in Europe and Latin America, especially those in the medical and teaching professions. Ecuador is no exception. The objective of this research is to know how Burnout Syndrome affects the teaching staff of an Ecuadorian university, using a descriptive methodology with a quantitative approach. The method used was the survey, using an instrument based on the "Maslach" burnout inventory, a tool that consists of 22 questions divided into three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal fulfillment. For the analysis, the following groups were defined: no burnout, mild/moderate burnout and severe burnout. A higher percentage of severe burnout is evidenced in men. The same occurs in the group of people between 35 and 44 years of age. It is concluded that there is an affectation in the quality of life of the teachers of the Salesian Polytechnic University caused by the Burnout Syndrome, it is recommended to improve the working condition of the employees to raise the levels of motivation and productivity of the organization.