Analyzing Stress Coping Strategies and Approaches of School Teachers

Abstract

With increasing demands of the job market, occupational stress isbecoming a matter of great concern for both employers and employeesacross the occupations. Individuals try different coping strategies andapproaches to keep this stress at a manageable level. This studyexamined the stress coping strategies and approaches used by the schoolteachers in respect to their perceived level of stress. A self-developedquestionnaire based on COPE inventory was used to conduct this surveybasedexploratory study. A sample of 400 school teachers with diversebackgrounds working in both public and private sectors was randomlyselected from two district of Punjab. Mean, percentage and t-test wereapplied to analyze the data. The study found that 60% of the teachersperceived high or very high level of stress. Female teachers reportedmore stress than male teachers. ‘Turning to religion’, ‘positivereinterpretation’ and ‘planning’ to actively solve the problem are themostly used coping strategies. The majority of respondents usedproblem-oriented and emotion-oriented strategies. Further, it was foundthat as the level of stress increased, teachers tend towards use of problemand emotion-oriented approaches than avoidance and social-supportapproaches.

Workplace Distress and Eustress among Teachers during the Pandemic

“…The common coping strategies used by the teachers are either discussing it with trustworthy colleagues, crafting their job a little bit, presenting their demand as a team in front of school management, personally hanging out with friends and family, listening to music, arranging, movie nights, trip to hilly areas in off days and other recreational activates etc. recent coping trends observed among Pakistani teachers are "Turning to religion," "positive reinterpretation" and "planning" to actively solve the problem (Hussain, Zulfqar, & Aziz, 2019). Teachers feel less worried and fear changing perceptions, organizational interventions, and coping.…”

Stress-coping Strategies amongst Newly Qualified Primary and Lower Secondary School Teachers with a Master’s Degree in Norway

“…The interview guide and setting may further explain why none of the informants mentioned any of the undesirable strategies for coping with stress that are documented in international studies, such as drug abuse (e.g., Richards, 2012) or religion (e.g., Hussain et al, 2019). Another weakness is the lack of other data sources or the use of other methods that could have provided us with additional information.…”

Exploring Stress Coping Strategies of Primary School Teachers

“…Whereas a study in china byWu, & Chan, (2012) found that in China, teachers use minimum frequency of humour. A study conducted byHussain, Zulfqar, & Aziz, (2019) entitled "Analyzing Stress Coping Strategies and Approaches" of 400 School Teachers with varied backgrounds working in both private and public schools and revealed that 'planning' to actively solve the problem, 'positive reinterpretation' 'Turning to religion', and, emotion-oriented strategies are mostly used strategies, while avoidance and social-support approaches are used least. Similarly, in India which has a similar Education system to Pakistan, A study on 120 teachers in Rajpur city of Chattisgarh, India, was conducted byShukla,…”