Abstract:
This study aims at determining the relationship between occupational burnout and personality traits of Turkish
EFL teachers. Occupational burnout has been studied from numerous perspectives with a wide range of
professions including teachers. Many parameters in the burnout process like age, poor leadership and stressful
environments have been mostly agreed on. However, the related literature lacks studies concerning language
teachers. Furthermore, the relationship between occupational burnout and personality traits of language teachers
has also been ignored. Taking this point into account, Turkish teachers of English working in a certain district in
Turkey are the focal point of the study, and 224 of them participated in it. The data was collected via two
questionnaires. Occupational burnout was measured with Maslach Burnout Inventory and the personality traits
of the participants were measured with the Five-factor Personality Inventory. Relevant issues were also analyzed
through a qualitative approach. No dominant personality trait could be detected among the participants. The
results also showed that occupational burnout exists among the participants but due to different factors than
being questioned. A positive correlation between neuroticism and occupational burnout is also among the
findings of the current study.
