Date of Award
8-2023
Document Type
Non Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Special Education
Department
Education
Program
Special Education with Autism Spectrum Disorder Licensure
Capstone Instructor
Dr. Mandy Kasowicz
Second Reader
Dr. Diane Harr
Keywords
Mindfulness, Occupational Stress, Burnout, Resilience, Well-being
Abstract
Educators are asked to do more tasks every school year. It can be difficult to maintain boundaries and continue feeling like an effective educator, with the demands of everyday teaching. This paper examined how the use of mindfulness, as an individual, assists educators in avoiding burnout. The resources used were a mix of qualitative, quantitative, quasi-experimental, meta-analyses, and mixed methods focusing on strategies and reasons educators should use stress-reducing techniques in their personal lives to help with occupational stress. The conclusion of the research gathered showed the use of mindfulness benefited educators and school systems by reducing absenteeism, reducing healthcare costs, and reducing teacher turnover (Harris & Bostain, 2021). As administrators add mindfulness into professional development, educators have space to create the balance.
Keywords: Mindfulness practice, Burnout, Occupational stress, Resilience