Compassion Fatigue, Emotional Labour & Educator Burnout

Overview

Teachers must be able to foster effective relationships. Whether in their role in the classroom, as a school leader or as a system/district leader, teachers need to build caring relationships with students, parents and the school community. But what price do teachers have to pay for this emotionally intensive work? 

This two-year study, led by researchers at the University of Calgary, examined the impact of emotional labour on Alberta educators. Planned in early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across Canada, this study is the result of a partnership between the ATA and the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan.

Research method

There are three elements to the study: 

• Phase 1 contains a literature review and definitions of key terms such as emotional labour and compassion fatigue. It also analyzes a survey completed by more than 2,000 educators.
• In Phase 2, researchers analyze 52 interviews conducted with educators about their experiences with emotional labour, particularly in the face of trauma and crisis situations with students or colleagues. This study recommends a mental health self-care planning strategy called a HEARTcare plan that incorporates individual, school based, system-wide and community-based strategies.
• The Executive Summary gives an overview of the entire project. 

Collaborators

Principal Researcher  

• Astrid Kendrick, EdD, University of Calgary

Research Assistants (Survey Coding) 

• Kate Beamer, MA, Doctoral Candidate
• Beejal Parekh, BEd