The School Principal, Teacher Burnout, and Need-Supportive Conversation.

This study tested the theoretical argument that psychological need-supportive conversation functions as a protective factor against teacher burnout by satisfying teacher psychological needs. The empirical test was conducted with a sample of 263 teachers from a medium sized urban school district in a Southwestern city. Need-supportive conversation had an indirect effect on teacher burnout through teacher psychological needs. Results support the role of need-supportive conversation in lessening the extent to which teachers experience emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]