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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether individual differences in the dispositional characteristics of optimism and extraversion led to less stress and, concomitantly, to less occupational burnout in a population of 108 teachers in one southern California school district. An additional aim was investigating whether coping strategies employed by optimists and extraverts either moderated or mediated levels of perceived stress.
Optimists reported significantly less stress and burnout than pessimists, and pessimists were significantly more likely to use negative coping strategies. Extraverts tended to use social support coping strategies and were significantly less likely than introverts to experience burnout. However, no evidence was found of optimists and extraverts using problem-solving coping, or of a significant correlation between extraversion and stress. Coping strategies neither moderated nor mediated stress. Results found one third of respondents experiencing burnout. Stress was highest among youngest teachers, females, and those with least experience.
