A longitudinal study of coping and gender in a female-dominated occupation: predicting teachers' burnout

This study investigates the role of gender in the benefits of coping (direct action and social support seeking) on the core dimensions of burnout (exhaustion and cynicism) using a longitudinal design. Specifically, the study examined these relationships on teachers, which is typically a female-dominated occupation. Data were gathered during the first term and again during the last term of the academic year. The Time 2 sample was composed of 141 male and 303 female teachers from 100 Spanish primary and secondary schools. Lagged and concurrent longitudinal designs were tested using random coefficient models. Concurrent interactive effects of gender in the relationship among coping strategies and cynicism as well as exhaustion were found. Direct action coping was beneficial only for men. Social support seeking coping was not beneficial for women; moreover, it was found to be detrimental for men. These results were in accord with previous studies confirming the coping-gender match hypothesis. Implications of these results and their significance for practical interventions in the work stress field are discussed.