Teachers under back-to-school stress: 'Burn-out' explained in new Treccani feature

The end of August brings a wave of anxiety for Italian teachers as the end of holidays coincides with the impending reopening of schools. This period is often marked by stress and the resurfacing of 'burn-out' symptoms, a phenomenon explored in a new feature on the Treccani.it portal.

The article highlights Treccani's 'L'alfabeto del lavoro. Parole e cose in trasformazione' (The Alphabet of Work. Words and things in transformation) series, which examines contemporary work-related issues through key terms. The entry on 'Burn-out', authored by linguist Beatrice Cristalli, defines it as a state of psycho-emotional stress that can lead to complete personal exhaustion. Officially recognized as a syndrome by the World Health Organization in 2019, burn-out stems from chronic stress that is not adequately managed, rather than a sign of total dedication to work.

Compounding the issue, nearly half of Italy's middle school teachers report experiencing work-related stress. A recent study by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work indicates that 24% of these teachers feel their profession negatively impacts their mental health, and 22% report adverse effects on their physical health. The situation is exacerbated in Italy by numerous demands placed on educators, including managing student conflicts, increasingly challenging interactions with parents and colleagues, a rise in bureaucratic tasks, and professional communications extending beyond work hours.

Low salaries, which remain among the lowest in Europe, and a general lack of social regard for the teaching profession further weigh on educators. This widespread distress among teachers reflects a broader cultural issue where sacrifice is often still perceived as a virtue in the workplace, rather than a signal of systemic problems in managing work-related stress.