This study examined the differential predictive roles of three dimensions of teacher burnout—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment—in relation to student outcomes, as well as the mediating roles of student-pe...
This study examined the differential predictive roles of three dimensions of teacher burnout—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment—in relation to student outcomes, as well as the mediating roles of student-perceived teacher enthusiasm and teacher support. Participants included 38 elementary school teachers and 583 students from their classrooms. Teachers reported their levels of burnout, whereas students assessed the mediators (perceived teacher enthusiasm and teacher support) and outcome variables, including classroom climate, behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, and academic value. Student outcome variables were measured at two time points to control for baseline levels. Given the hierarchical structure of the data, Bayesian multilevel path analyses were conducted. Results indicated that depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment were indirectly associated with students’ behavioral engagement and academic value through perceived teacher enthusiasm. In addition, reduced personal accomplishment negatively predicted classroom climate. Emotional exhaustion was not significantly related to any student outcomes. All significant indirect effects were observed only through perceived teacher enthusiasm, not through perceived teacher support. Although reduced personal accomplishment was negatively associated with student-perceived teacher support, which in turn affected classroom climate, indirect effect was not significant. These findings suggest that students may be more likely to perceive teacher burnout as a reduction in teacher enthusiasm rather than as changes in supportive behavior. Such perceptions may predict students’ classroom climate perceptions, engagement, and academic value. This study highlights the distinct roles of teacher burnout dimensions and identifies student-perceived teacher enthusiasm as a key mechanism linking teacher burnout to student experiences.