Effect of Locus Control on Burnout in Instructors of Iranian Governments Literal Movement

The aim of the present research was to compare job burn out in adult instructors with external and internal locus of control. The study was applied and descriptive and used SPSS to analyze data using multivariate analysis of variance and Chi Square tests. The target population was all female adult instructors employed in the Iranian government's literal movement program in the City of Tehran. Thus, using cluster random sampling, 205 participants were selected for this study. Two scales, namely, Ratter's Internal - External Locus of Control Questionnaire and Maslach's Burnout Inventory were used. Results showed that there was a significant difference between external and internal control subjects in emotional exhaustion. Participants showing external locus of control showed more emotional exhaustion that participants showing internal locus control. Furthermore, subjects showing external locus of control expressed significantly more depersonalization that their internal locus of control counterparts. No significant difference was found between the two groups as far as personal non accomplishment was concerned. Interesting interaction effects were also observed: single external locus of control instructors showed significantly more emotional exhaustion than married internal locus of control subjects. Furthermore, married subjects who were educated at bachelor's level and were classified as having internal locus of control, expressed more effectiveness and accomplishment in their jobs than those with high school diplomas and associate degrees. The same pattern was noted for instructors who had more than five years of work experience as compared to other groups.