The Impact of Using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)intervention for Reducing Teacher Burnout and Enhancing Self-efficacy of teachers of Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD)

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on reducing teacher burnout of teachers of Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD).It is also aimed to investigate the impact of decreased teachers' burnout on enhancing the self-efficacy of those teachers. To achieve such goal, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention and Oldenburg teacher burnout inventory, and Self-efficacy Scale. The sample of the study consists of 32 teachers who teach autistic children in the Autistic Behavior School (ABS) in Jahraa district, in the State of Kuwait. They were divided into two groups; the experimental group including 15 ASD teachers and the control group that includes 17 teachers. Both quantitative and qualitative designs were used; the quasi-experimental research design has been adopted in this study to assess the improvement achieved by the experimental group compared with the control group as a result of using the MBSR intervention program. Also, semi-structured interviews have been held with certain teachers with a high level of burnout. Results of the study revealed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. MBSR intervention was effective in alleviating teachers' burnout and enhancing their self-efficacy. Based on the study results, it is recommended that mindfulness strategies should be used to alleviate anxiety, depression, stress, and even burnout teachers experience due to their job especially those teaching children with disabilities and autism.