What causes the stress of school teachers?

October 14, 2018 Educator's Corner Opinion

There are many factors that cause the stress of school teachers. Most of these factors are work-related while some are
personal related. Work-related factors include pressure in the workplace, meeting deadlines, living up to the expectations of the higher ups, and others. Personal related include relationship demands, physical and mental health, among others. All of these conditions and situations are valid causes of stress.
On top of the causes of stress of school teachers is work-related. According to Karyn Smith (2017) factors that
cause the stress of teachers can be grouped into three general categories. These are: 1) “intrinsic factors associated
with the content of the work e.g. workload, time pressure, classroom management, class size, pace of educational change and reform, decision-making power, physical working conditions, professional autonomy, career path; 2)
workplace relationships i.e. relationships with colleagues, parents, administrative staff; and 3) organizational culture i.e. general feeling of the workplace; supportive, positive and inclusive management style with a team culture or demanding and critical management style with an autocratic feel”.
In a study conducted by Jacquelyn P. Robinson (1989), she identified four basic professional stressors among
secondary teachers. These are “(a) working conditions, (b) professional responsibilities, (c) student teacher situations, and (d) student discipline”. Steven Lee Campbell (2016) also identified five “main causes that
create high stress levels in teachers” and all of these has to do with work. These are: 1) excessive workload and long
working hours, 2) poor student behavior, 3) professional pressure – assessments/targets/inspection, 4) conflict with
management/colleagues, 5) lack of professional opportunities”.
And as Michael Linsin (2015) pointed out, “the worst cause of teacher stress is trying to convince students to behave”
which is part of the primary functions of a teacher. Other causes of stress among teachers are personal and
environment related. In a research conducted by Chandresan Manjula (2007) the following teachers suffer stress.
“1) Teachers above 40 years of age are highly exhausted which may lead to stress, 2) teaches with no flexibility of timings are highly exhausted, 3) teachers in joint family lose control leading to stress, and 4) married teachers
lose control leading to stress”.
Indeed, stress is unavoidable in the daily lives of school teachers. But stress can be avoided in many ways depending on how one deals with it. Robinson (1989) stated that to “reduce or alleviate stress” one has to be “aware of the factors that are most prone to causing stress. Teachers should be continuously aware of early symptoms of stress.
Situations that yield high stress levels should be avoided”.
Other ways on dealing with stress include the following: focusing on finishing one task after the other, looking at the
positive side because the outcome depends on how one sees it, avoiding negative thoughts because they lead to
sure failure, having a calm and more relaxed mind because these can improve idea generation that can help in being productive in the workplace.
Since stress in the workplace can affect our relationship with other people (Robinson, 1989; Linsin, 2015; Campbell, 2016; and Smith, 2017), one way of dealing with it is to be open in our communications. Bonding with the family, going out with friends, spending a quality alone time could be effective ways in coping with stress
Finally, being grateful in the little things rather than wanting too much can be very rewarding. Appreciating personal and group achievements, regardless of how small or big they are, can lead to a positive perspective on how one views his or her life that will give him or her the strength to deal with problems, avoid stress, and live a healthier life. MARY JANE C. CABABAT, Baguio City National High School