IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-3p686-709.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Factors Affecting Job Burnout among Teachers in China: A Comprehensive Review

Author

Listed:
  • Wang Xiaoci

    (Faculty of Business & Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis Qing Gong College, North China University of Science and Technology)

  • Muhammad Asyraf bin Mohd Kassim

    (Faculty of Business & Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis)

  • Mohd Fitri bin Mansor

    (Faculty of Business & Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis)

Abstract

The antecedents and outcomes of teacher burnout have increasingly attracted the attention of both Chinese and international researchers in recent years. In the Chinese education system, burnout becomes a serious issue for a large workgroup of 18.9 million teachers. However, there has been no comprehensive review to synthesize the literature in this area, limiting our understanding on how burnout is experienced in this specific cultural context. This study adopts the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as its theoretical framework and conducts a systematic literature review of 75 studies published since 2021 on teacher burnout in China. We review on the job demands, job resources, and personal resources as the antecedents of burnout, and also on the outcomes of burnout. Our review indicates that teachers in China experience unique job demands because of specific cultural context. Moreover, we summarize how motivation contribute to the mechanism of burnout development among Chinese teachers. Third, drawing from the recent extension of the JD-R model, we suggest future avenues for teacher burnout research in China, including examining job demands, job resources, and personal resources under specific cultural context and education types, further investigating the role of motivation in the JD-R model, and conducting more intervention studies to mitigate teacher burnout.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang Xiaoci & Muhammad Asyraf bin Mohd Kassim & Mohd Fitri bin Mansor, 2025. "Factors Affecting Job Burnout among Teachers in China: A Comprehensive Review," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 686-709, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-3:p:686-709
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-3/686-709.pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/factors-affecting-job-burnout-among-teachers-in-china-a-comprehensive-review/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew Luk & Bessie Chan & Selwyne Cheong & Stanley Ko, 2010. "An Exploration of the Burnout Situation on Teachers in Two Schools in Macau," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 489-502, February.
    2. Edith Anomneze & Dorothy Ugwu & Ibeawuchi Enwereuzor & Leonard Ugwu, 2016. "Teachers’ Emotional Labour and Burnout: Does Perceived Organizational Support Matter?," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, February.
    3. María del Mar Ferradás & Carlos Freire & Alba García-Bértoa & José Carlos Núñez & Susana Rodríguez, 2019. "Teacher Profiles of Psychological Capital and Their Relationship with Burnout," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Jing Li & Soon-Yew Ju & Lai-Kuan Kong & Nana Jiang, 2023. "A Study on the Mechanism of Spiritual Leadership on Burnout of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers: The Mediating Role of Career Calling and Emotional Intelligence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Changkang Sun & Xuechao Feng & Binghai Sun & Weijian Li & Chenyin Zhong, 2022. "Teachers’ Professional Identity and Burnout among Chinese Female School Teachers: Mediating Roles of Work Engagement and Psychological Capital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-10, October.
    6. Min Xie & Shunsen Huang & Li Ke & Xia Wang & Yun Wang, 2022. "The Development of Teacher Burnout and the Effects of Resource Factors: A Latent Transition Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Richard M. Ryan & Veronika Huta & Edward Deci, 2008. "Living well: a self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 139-170, January.
    8. Lian, Ling & Guo, Shengzhong & Wang, Qian & Hu, Lihong & Yang, Xueer & Li, Xuejie, 2021. "Calling, character strengths, career identity, and job burnout in young Chinese university teachers: A chain-mediating model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Wanying Zhang & Erlin He & Yaqing Mao & Shilong Pang & Jin Tian, 2023. "How Teacher Social-Emotional Competence Affects Job Burnout: The Chain Mediation Role of Teacher-Student Relationship and Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.
    10. Fei Liu & Huaruo Chen & Jie Xu & Ya Wen & Tingting Fang, 2021. "Exploring the Relationships between Resilience and Turnover Intention in Chinese High School Teachers: Considering the Moderating Role of Job Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Wei Chen & Shuyi Zhou & Wen Zheng & Shiyong Wu, 2022. "Investigating the Relationship between Job Burnout and Job Satisfaction among Chinese Generalist Teachers in Rural Primary Schools: A Serial Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Kwok Kuen Tsang & Guangqiang Wang & Hui Bai, 2022. "Enabling School Bureaucracy, Psychological Empowerment, and Teacher Burnout: A Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, February.
    13. Lan Xu & Jing Guo & Longzhao Zheng & Qiaoping Zhang, 2023. "Teacher Well-Being in Chinese Universities: Examining the Relationship between Challenge—Hindrance Stressors, Job Satisfaction, and Teaching Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Kwok Kuen Tsang & Yuan Teng & Yi Lian & Li Wang, 2021. "School Management Culture, Emotional Labor, and Teacher Burnout in Mainland China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jing Li & Soon-Yew Ju & Lai-Kuan Kong & Nana Jiang, 2023. "A Study on the Mechanism of Spiritual Leadership on Burnout of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers: The Mediating Role of Career Calling and Emotional Intelligence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Xiuhong Xu & Yuxin Jiang & Lei Chen & Yuanyuan Chen, 2024. "The Variables Associated with Burnout Among Korean Early Childhood Teachers: A Meta-Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    3. Xiuhong Xu & Yuxin Jiang & Lei Chen, 2023. "A Meta-Analysis of Variables Related to Burnout Among Chinese Preschool Teachers," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.
    4. Anna Kariou & Panagiota Koutsimani & Anthony Montgomery & Olga Lainidi, 2021. "Emotional Labor and Burnout among Teachers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Małgorzata W Kożusznik & José M Peiró & Aida Soriano, 2019. "Daily eudaimonic well-being as a predictor of daily performance: A dynamic lens," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, April.
    6. Sjoerd Halem & Eeske Roekel & Jaap Denissen, 2024. "Understanding the Dynamics of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives on Daily Well-Being: Insights from Experience Sampling Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 1-25, October.
    7. Violeta Misheva, 2016. "What Determines Emotional Well-Being? The Role of Adverse Experiences: Evidence Using Twin Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1921-1937, October.
    8. Andrew D. Napier & Gavin R. Slemp & Dianne A. Vella-Brodrick, 2024. "Crafting One’s Life and its Relationship with Psychological Needs: A Scoping Review," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 2063-2101, August.
    9. Geurim Han & Junghwa Kim & Sun W. Park, 2018. "Extrinsic Value Orientation and Decreased Sustainability of Shared Resources: The Moderating Role of Situational Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, June.
    10. Xinzhu Wang & Jaeyeon Sim, 2025. "The Relationship Between Work Stress and Compensatory Tourism Consumption: Exploring New Directions for Individual Sustainable Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-21, February.
    11. Therese Kobbeltvedt & Katharina Wolff, 2009. "The Risk-as-feelings hypothesis in a Theory-of-planned-behaviour perspective," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 4(7), pages 567-586, December.
    12. Waratta Authayarat & Hiroyuki Umemuro, 2012. "Workplace Environment Characteristics as Antecedents of Affective Well-being in the Workplace," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 3(6), pages 307-324, December.
    13. Zixuan Dong & Mohd Faiq Abd Aziz, 2022. "The Impact of Work-Family Conflict on Job Satisfaction in Teachers: A Conceptual Framework," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 12(4S), pages 2437-2437, December.
    14. Mohsen Joshanloo, 2013. "A Comparison of Western and Islamic Conceptions of Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(6), pages 1857-1874, December.
    15. Brand-Correa, Lina I. & Steinberger, Julia K., 2017. "A Framework for Decoupling Human Need Satisfaction From Energy Use," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 43-52.
    16. Zhanjia Zhang & Bruno Giordani & Weiyun Chen, 2024. "Impact of a Multi-Component Physical Activity Intervention on Psychological Well-Being in Older Adults: A Pilot Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, August.
    17. Jen-Ho Chang & Chin-Lan Huang & Yi-Cheng Lin, 2015. "Mindfulness, Basic Psychological Needs Fulfillment, and Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 1149-1162, October.
    18. Lydia Nganga & Susan Muriungi PhD, 2023. "Assessment of The Factors Contributing to Burnout Syndrome Among Select Public Primary School Teachers in Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(2), pages 346-363, February.
    19. Schubert, Christian, 2015. "Opportunity And Preference Learning," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(2), pages 275-295, July.
    20. Wei Chen & Shuyi Zhou & Wen Zheng & Shiyong Wu, 2022. "Investigating the Relationship between Job Burnout and Job Satisfaction among Chinese Generalist Teachers in Rural Primary Schools: A Serial Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-3:p:686-709. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.