High School Teachers' Perceptions of Stress in Their Work Environment

For decades researchers have reported that theprimary health problem of teachers is stress andthat the causes are multiple and complex. Workplacestress has also been found to diminish teachers'enthusiasm and distance them emotionally from theirstudents, thereby lessening the teacher-studentinteraction. The incremental downloading ofadditional duties for teachers over the past severalyears has, in their perception, created unreasonabledemands. The purpose of this grounded theory studywas to explore the experiences of high schoolteachers in their work environment, particularlytheir experiences of stress. This study identifiedthe importance of administrative and collegialsupport, the value of effective communication, theneed for adequate resources and professionaldevelopment, and the necessity of recognizing theexcessive workload and associated stress thatteachers are feeling. The stigma associated withstress had prevented them from speaking out untilthey were interviewed. The analysis provided newinsight into the serious problem of teacher stressand will be helpful for educators and administratorsat all levels.

Autorentext

Lynda Younghusband, PhD: Studied Community Health Nursing,
Education, Counselling, and Clinical Epidemiology. Currently a
counsellor and researcher in the Counselling Centre, Memorial
University of Newfoundland.

Klappentext

For decades researchers have reported that the
primary health problem of teachers is stress and
that the causes are multiple and complex. Workplace
stress has also been found to diminish teachers'
enthusiasm and distance them emotionally from their
students, thereby lessening the teacher-student
interaction. The incremental downloading of
additional duties for teachers over the past several
years has, in their perception, created unreasonable
demands. The purpose of this grounded theory study
was to explore the experiences of high school
teachers in their work environment, particularly
their experiences of stress. This study identified
the importance of administrative and collegial
support, the value of effective communication, the
need for adequate resources and professional
development, and the necessity of recognizing the
excessive workload and associated stress that
teachers are feeling. The stigma associated with
stress had prevented them from speaking out until
they were interviewed. The analysis provided new
insight into the serious problem of teacher stress
and will be helpful for educators and administrators
at all levels.