Characteristics of professional adaptation of correctional school teachers

Training and education of children with physical and mental health problems makes a number of requirements for teachers working in various correctional medical institutions. These specialists must have a high level of adaptive characteristics allowing combining up-to-date pedagogical methodology with individual approach, taking into account the current state of the child. As a result of applying complex experimental psychological techniques we managed to identify specific features of correctional teachers’ adaptive characteristics (when comparing with public school teachers), namely: low level of activity and optimism, insufficient adaptive strategy to cope with stress characterizing maladaptive personality types. There were also a lot of negative organizational factors affecting the process and result of professional activity: a lot of work, unauthorized persons at the lessons, interaction problems with parents, insufficiency of pupils’ independent work, need for individual explanation, lack of real results in teacher’s activity. Teachers working in correctional schools and having an average level of social and psychological adaptation give a lower evaluation of various aspects in professional activity. They have a pronounced value of psychological and physiological professional maladjustment shown in somatic, emotional and social spheres as well as motivation decrease in their professional activity. Correctional school teachers have a high degree of professional burnout and their emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are more pronounced.