Journal of Advances in Developmental Research 2 (2) 2011 : 268-272

Research Article
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Journal of Advances in Developmental Research

ISSN: 0976-4704 (Print), e-ISSN: 0976-4844 (Online) J.Adv.Dev.Res. Volume 2, No.2, December 2011

A Study of Stress and Burnout Between Schools and Universities Physical Education Teachers
Sisodiya Aman Singh* and Arora Deepika
*Corresponding author, Department of Physical Education, Jai Naraien Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Email:dramansisodiya@gmail.com

Abstract
The data pertaining to the psychological characteristics were collected from 50 subjects (25 subjects from college/universities, while another 25 subjects were from schools), who were selected from different organizations either affiliated to the government, to public or private sector, to different boards or universities, who are engaged in teaching and coaching either at school, college or university level. Psychological questionnaires were administered to the subjects. The stress and burnout between the physical educationists of school, college or university level, was find out using Stress Diagnostic Survey and Maslach Burnout Inventory method, respectively. All the selected subjects were informed about the aims and objectives of the present work and requested for their cooperation. The subjects were explained about different variables required for the study with necessary instructions. The scholar contacted the physical education teachers personally and their sincere cooperation was solicited. Results show a significant difference between the mean scores of physical educationist of school, college or university level, in relation to stress and burnout. The correlation between physical educationists of school, college or university level, in relation to stress and burnout was also found significant at 0.05 levels of significance.

Introduction
Sports form an important aspect of life. They play a vital role in bringing about physical, mental and social growth of the nation. The past few decades have witnessed man on innovation in this area. Sports are becoming increasingly sophisticated, technical, gaining popularity as separate profession with expansion of educational facilities in the country. More young people are taking part in sports as a daily feature of their life. The participation in sports and physical fitness increase an individuals productivity, and also promotes social harmony and discipline.

Sports psychology is the scientific study of behaviour in sports or sports related context. It is an attempt to understand how and why underlying sports behaviour. Sports psychology is defined as the study of mental processes related to human sports performance. It consists of theories and laws of learning, the important of reinforcement, and the linking of perceptual abilities with motor performance contribute to the body of knowledge. Sports psychologists utilize the information when studying topics such as achievement motivation, arousal, attribution and personality development1. The application of psychological principles to the improvement of performance in sport has

A.S. Sisodiya and D. Arora received greater attention today. There are certain accepted psychological principles which have to be applied so that the athletes and players are able to show their best in their performance. It is important to know about the role of emotional phenomenon like incentive motivation, achievement motivation, state and trait anxiety and sport competition anxiety of the players during training as well as competitive situations2. Basic research in psychology includes per ception, cogn ition , attention, emotion, motivation, brain functioning, personality, behaviour, and interpersonal relationships. Some, especially depth psychologists also consider the unconscious mind. Psychologists employ empirical methods to determine causal and correlational relationships between psychosocial variables. In addition, or in opposition, to employing empirical and deductive methods, clinical psychologists sometimes rely upon symbiotic interpretation and other inductive techniques. Physical activity positively influences physical and psychological health at all stages of life cycle, thus the promotion of physical activity is an effective means of improving health and enhancing function and quality of life. Young individuals have increased their involvement in physical activity and competitive sport; there have indeed been corresponding psychological benefits. Some of these ben efits include enhan ced motivation, increased self-concept and improved mood states. Feeling of c on stan t str ess leads to exhausted feeling (Physically, mentally and emotionally) which may be termed as burnout. Effective burnout-busting strategies include taking care of one emotionally and physically, asking for help when one need it, and staying connected to other people.

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The subject of this study were the coaches, teachers or administrators selected from different institutions either affiliated to the government at the centre or in the state, to public or private sector or to different boards/universities who are engaged in physical education activities i.e., coaching, teaching and administration. The total numbers of subjects for this study were 50 ph y sic al ed u c ation ists (25 fr om c olleg es/ universities, while another 25 subjects were from schools). Criterion Measured Two criteria i.e. stress and burnouts were measured between subjects. Administration of tests Stress Diagnostic survey: Stress Diagnostic questionnaire contained th e str es s diag n ostic su r v e y (SD S) a multidimensional self-reportin g in ventor y designed to measure employees perception of stress. The latest version of stress diagnostic survey contains 75 items that reflect perceived stress in terms of 17 work-related dimensions. These 17 dimensions are categorized as Macrostressor s and Micro-stressor s. Th e macr ostressors are related to organizational agencies while the micro-stressors are more related to the persons job. Each dimension contains four items. Respondents indicate the frequency the condition on a 7 point scale ranging from never to always. The stress diagnostic survey is widely used and has a high degree of internal consistency and retest reliability. These 17 dimensions are categorized as either macro-stressors (Politics, Human resource dev elopme n t, Rew ar ds, Par ti c ipation , Underutilization, Supervisory style, Organization structure and Work flow) or micro-stressors (Role ambiguity, Role conflict, Quantitative for people, Time pressure, Job scope and Technology). Details of these variables are given below. Subject were asked to circle the appropriate number for each item that describes best for how frequently each item is a source of stress at work

Experimental
Selection of Subject

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Journal of Advances in Developmental Research 2 (2) 2011 : 268-272 Statistical Analysis The data collected were calculated using descriptive statistics and t-test. Further the data were analyzed using product moment correlation coefficient.

place. The subjects were described the different numbers to be circled by them as; Circle 1 if the condition described is never a source of stress. Circle 2 if it is rarely a source of stress. Circle 3 if it is occasionally a source of stress. Circle 4 if it is sometimes a source of stress. Circle 5 if it is often a source of stress. Circle 6 if it is usually a source of stress. Circle 7 if it is always a source of stress. Maslach Burnout Inventory The thir d par t of the questionnaire contained the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Th e M aslac h Bur n ou t In v entor y is a self reporting instrument with three sub scales designed to measure burnout. It encompasses emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. Emotional Exhaustion It consists of nine items and assesses feelings of being emotionally over-extended and over-exhausted by ones work. Depersonalization It includes five items that measure an unfeeling and impersonal response towards recipients of ones service, care, treatment or instruction. Personal Accomplishment It consists of eigh t items; sub scale assesses the feelings of competence and successful achievement in ones work with people. The purpose of Maslach Burnout Inventory is to find out, how coaches view their job and the people when they work closely. A total of 22 statements of job related feelings were described to the subject for three subscales as mentioned above. The subjects were asked to read the statement carefully and answer after deciding if they were ever felt this about their job. The subjects were asked to tick the number that best describes their feelings.

Results and Discussion

Table 1. Descriptive statistics of stress between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists College/University School Mean Standard Deviation Range Minimum Maximum N 225.76 29.697 119 167 286 25 276.68 24.951 108 212 320 25

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of burnout between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists College/University School Mean Standard Deviation Range Minimum Maximum N 42.64 3.534 13 37 50 25 57.88 9.134 36 40 76 25

The purpose of this study was many folds and revealed some specific differences between the physical educationists of college/universities and schools. Before getting into conclusion of the study, it should be understood that, physical educationists are the architects of sports in education system and has multiple role in the life of sportsmen during their student life. Their positive contribution certainly helps any society or country to grow with proper ratio.

A.S. Sisodiya and D. Arora Table 3. t- ratio of the means of stress between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists Physical educationists College/Universities Mean 225.76 S.D 29.697 *significant at 0.05 level Table 4. t- ratio of the means of burnout between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists Game Mean S.D Individual game 42.64 3.534 Team game 57.88 9.134 t-ratio 7.779* Schools 276.68 24.951 6.563* t-ratio

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Table 8. Correlation coefficient of stress and burnout between schools physical educationists Physical educationists Correlation of coefficient Stress Burnout 0.787557*

*significant at 0.05 level The mean score of schools physical educationists were found higher than the physical educationists of college/universities in relation to stress (Table 1). The result of the study revealed significant difference between the mean scores of physical educationists of college/universities and schools (Table 3). High level of stress in the schools phy sical educ ation ists than the physical educationists of college/universities might be attributed to their job assignment. This fact is quite reasonable that, satisfying head of the institution at a time is tough than to satisfy players. The needs, temperament and working conditions of schools physical educationists vary from each other; this takes lot of efforts to sublimate those inputs on oneto-one basis. Sometimes sch ools physical educationists may not succeed in their efforts resulting in to failed performance, which may also lead to stress. The total quantitative overload may also lead the extent of stress. In other words stress may also be created by too great a volume of work to be accomplished in the allotted time. The difference in stress level between the physical educationists of college/universities and schools may also be due to micro-stressors like; role ambiguity, role conflict, career progress, time pressure etc. The result of present study is also on the line of the studies conducted previously3. They found different exploratory and confirmatory factors along with administrative constraints like increased workload and excessive meetings as principal form of stress. Mean, standard deviation, range, minimum and maximum values for burn out were found higher in schools physical educationists than that of college/universities (Table 2). The effect was also found significant (Table 4). Sources of burnout indicated factors like, performance, lack of recognition, time pressure and interpersonal

*significant at 0.05 level Table 5. Correlation coefficient of stress between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists Physical educationists Correlation of coefficient College/Universities Schools -0.01597

Table 6. Correlation coefficient of burnout between college/ universities an d sch ools physical educationists Physical educationists Correlation of coefficient College/University Schools 0.00914

Table 7. Correlation coefficient of stress and burnout between college/universities physical educationists Physical educationists Correlation of coefficient Stress 0.709768* Burnout *significant at 0.05 level

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Journal of Advances in Developmental Research 2 (2) 2011 : 268-272

5. Itschaki N. 1994. Occupational stresses and burnout among hospital social workers. Dissertation Abstract International, 55, 03:740-A. 6. Dale J and Weinberg R. 1989. Burnout in Sport: Review and Critique, University of north Texas, Denton. USA Applied sports Psychology, 2: 6783.

conflict3. These factors accounting for burnout can also be predictor; attributed to the emotional exhaustion and lack of personal accomplishment. The prevalence of burnout was also studied previously 4 an d a positive and sign ific ant relationship was found attributed among sex, age, marital status and coaching appointment. A study about burnout among hospital social workers was conducted5 and results show that lack of education and lack of experience were the key factor for burnout. The result of present study may also be attributed to the emotional maturity, role conflict, role ambiguity, role assignment, over load, experience, personal relationship and active participation of the physical educationist. A study on college and school coaches was carried out6 to determine burnout in relation to their leadership style and concluded that burnout and leadership style have a significant relationship. Correlation between college/universities and schools physical educationists for stress and burnout was found non-significant (Table 5 and 6) but a significant relationship was revealed within the physical educationist of college/ universities and schools level in relation to their stress and burnout level (Table 7 and 8). The fact may be attributed to the emotional maturity which seems to be at different level for the entire physical educationists as the age variation factor was high.

References
1. Angela L. 1986. Physical Education: A Contemporary Introduction. Saint Louis: Times Mirror /Mosby College Publishing. 2. Singh A. 1992. Sports Psychology: A Study of Indian Sportsmen. Delhi: Friends Publications. 3. Rainey DW. 1995. Sources of Stress, Burnout and Intention to Terminate among Basketball Referees. Journal of Sport Behavior, 22: 453459. 4. Karen E. 1993. Occupational burnout in physical Education Faculties . Dissertation Abstract International, 54, 01: 123-A.