Career Orientations and Psychological Burnout in Teachers

Four career orientations proposed by Cherniss (1980) were related to psychological burnout and its antecedents and consequences. The four career orientations were: Self-investors, Social Activists, Careerists, and Artisans. 833 men and women in teaching provided data by completing questionnaires. Artisans were most common (61%), followed by Social Activists (18%), Careerists (12%), and Self-investors (10%). Social Activists reported greater burnout, greater stress, and the least satisfying work setting. In addition, Social Activists reported the least job satisfaction, greatest intention to turnover, and poorest physical health. Artisans reported greatest work satisfaction, least burnout, and the least stress.