{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T07:36:19Z","timestamp":1787902579495,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]],"date-time":"2025-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744934400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Teacher burnout, a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment has been increasing, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our 2022 study revealed significant burnout levels, identifying that teachers\u2019 pandemic experiences had adverse \u201cConsequences\u201d that left them feeling \u201cOverburdened\u201d, and \u201cAbandoned\u201d. Although COVID-19 has receded, recent findings indicate that Irish teachers continue to face heightened demands without adequate support. This follow-up comparative study aims to deepen understanding of post-pandemic teacher burnout by using the same questions from the 2022 study to understand and analyse these evolving stressors. A qualitative, comparative approach was employed. Participants (n = 337) were recruited from various school types across Ireland. A Study Specific Questionnaire (SSQ) with open-ended questions allowed for thematic analysis, comparing responses with 2022 themes to explore continuity and changes in burnout experiences. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) Administrative Overload\u2014increasing paperwork and curriculum changes; (2) Unrealistic Expectations\u2014pressures from parents, society, and authorities; (3) Lack of Community Support and Empathy\u2014teachers reported a sense of isolation and a need for mutual support; and (4) Inadequate Mental Health and Professional Support\u2014insufficient mental health resources for both educators and students. The study underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to address teacher burnout in Ireland. Recommendations include reducing administrative load, clarifying professional boundaries, fostering empathy within the school community, and expanding mental health services. Addressing these factors is essential for sustaining a resilient educational system in the post-pandemic context.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22040641","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]],"date-time":"2025-04-18T08:24:07Z","timestamp":1744964647000},"page":"641","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Burnout Persists in Teachers in Ireland Post-COVID-19: A Qualitative Follow Up Comparative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Ellen","family":"N\u00ed Chinseallaigh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew","family":"Shipsey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1942-8328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisha","family":"Minihan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Blanaid","family":"Gavin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland"},{"name":"Children\u2019s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, D12 N512 Dublin, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9428-6908","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fiona","family":"McNicholas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland"},{"name":"Children\u2019s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, D12 N512 Dublin, Ireland"},{"name":"Lucena Clinic, Saint John of God, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Rathgar, D06 HX93 Dublin, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.psych.52.1.397","article-title":"Job burnout","volume":"52","author":"Maslach","year":"2001","journal-title":"Annu. 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