Abstract
Background and aim: Burnout syndrome (BS) is described by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a lack of personal accomplishment. It is now recognized as a syndrome affecting a broader range of professions. Teaching is a profession with numerous job related stressors. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of BS among primary and secondary school teachers In Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Using a standardized questionnaire, a cross sectional study of Makkah city population in Saudi Arabia was carried out. Any primary, secondary and high school teachers in Makkah, male and female, Saudi or not, met the inclusion criteria. In this study, burnout was measured using The Maslach Burnout Scale (MBS). Data were extracted, reviewed, coded, and then entered in to statistical software IBM SPSS version 22. (SPSS, Inc Chicago, IL) P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The study survey was completed by 354 teachers in total. The exact 228 (64.4%) teachers were females (36.7%) of the teachers who experienced high BS levels. BS was significantly higher among young aged teachers (42.2% vs. 23.7%) and female teachers (42.1% vs. 27%). Also, there's a significant association between the number of classes per week and BS, additional factors included social issues, chronic diseases and the fear of being forced to work. Conclusion: BS is wide spread among teachers, as evidenced by the fact that 36% of respondents scored highly for (BS). These results demonstrate the requirement for programs to support teachers' mental health in order to improve the educational process.