Mindfulness and special education teachers' burnout: The serial multiple mediation effects of self-acceptance and perceived stress

We used a serial multiple mediation model of self-acceptance and perceived stress to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and burnout in Chinese special education teachers. Altogether, 307 participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self- Acceptance Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, and Teacher Burnout Inventory. Results showed that self-acceptance and perceived stress had significant serial multiple mediation effects on the relationship between mindfulness and burnout. Perceived stress also partially mediated the effect of mindfulness on burnout. However, selfacceptance did not have a mediation effect on the relationship between mindfulness and burnout. A practical implication of these findings is that increased use of mindfulness and greater self-acceptance may, as well as reducing perceived stress, help prevent and/or alleviate burnout among special education teachers.