A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Professional Burnout Of Public Elementary School Heads

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to delve and understand the experiences of public elementary school heads in dealing with professional burnout. The study was seen through the lens of the Burnout Model of Maslach which emphasizes that burnout is a long-term reaction to recurring interpersonal stress at work. The three main aspects of these responses are overpowering exhaustion; sense of cynicism and detachment from work; feeling of helplessness and failure. This is also supported by Karasek's Demand-Control Model of Job Stress which introduced the influence of work characteristics on the stress, health, and wellbeing at work. This study was conducted at Division of Davao del Norte involving 10 public elementary school heads who were selected using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results show that with regards to lived experiences of public elementary school heads in dealing with professional burnout, these major themes emerged: viewing experiences as opportunities for learning, feeling of exhaustion due to work demands, experiencing varied feelings and emotions, experiencing reduce of performance, encountering health related concerns and productivity, and taking a break. To manage and address challenges associated with professional burnout, the participants coped through the following themes: prioritizing self-care, having work-life balance, organizing tasks and applying time management, establishing a supportive network, and accepting burnout as part of the job. Furthermore, the insights gained by the participants were summarized into the following themes: imbibe positive attitude, establish self-care, desire for a balanced environment, seek personal and professional growth, and get support from others. The result of this study is beneficial to public elementary school heads, teachers, and DepEd authorities in dealing with professional burnout. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the realities of professional burnout and suggest strategies to deal with professional burnout effectively through prioritizing self-care, having work-life balance, and establishing supportive network among colleagues.