ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of workplace loneliness, job burnout and conscientiousness in teachers of special education. METHODS: A total of 344 teachers of special education from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were selected as study subjects by judgment sampling method. The questionnaires of Workplace Loneliness Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory and Conscientiousness Scale of Big Five Inventory were used to conduct the survey. The mediating role of job burnout in workplace loneliness and conscientiousness was analyzed. RESULTS: The total score of workplace loneliness was 32.6±8.3. The median total score of job burnout and conscientiousness was 31.0 and 30.6 respectively. Partial correlation analysis showed that the dimensions of job burnout were positively correlated with the total score of workplace loneliness and all its dimension scores, and negatively correlated with conscientiousness score(P<0.01). The degree of explanation for the change of workplace loneliness and job burnout on conscientiousness were 9.0% and 17.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: Job burnout plays a partial mediating role in workplace loneliness and conscientiousness in teachers of special education. Reducing workplace loneliness and job burnout can help improve the conscientiousness of teachers of special education.