Emotional Distress, Burnout and Sense of Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Teachers After the Reopening of Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on people's psychological well-being and mental health. This study aimed to identify factors linked to emotional distress, burnout and sense of safety in teachers related to the reopening of Polish schools after lockdown, remote work, and the holiday period between March and August 2020. A total of 1,286 teachers from different educational institutions participated in the online study. A set of questionnaires was used to measure depressive and anxiety symptoms, sense of safety, fear of coronavirus, emotion regulation strategies, resilience, and burnout. Sociodemographic, COVID-19- and work-related variables were also controlled. Path analysis showed that emotion regulation strategies had both direct and indirect (via FCV-19 and resilience) effects on the severity of depressive symptoms, anxiety, burnout and sense of safety. These results are discussed in the context of both possible risk and protective factors for teachers' wellbeing. Possible systemic solutions or therapeutic interventions that may be beneficial for this group are also discussed.