Teacher staff study

A recent study on teacher stress from psychology researchers found that 93% of the elementary-school teachers participating in the study reported high levels of stress. However, about 60% of study participants said they were able to cope with stress and avoid burnout because they had support from their schools, and their students showed the same level of academic and behavioral outcomes as peers with teachers in the well-adjusted group. Teacher stress is high partly because the demands of the job can lead to emotional exhaustion, which arises as teachers try to manage the emotional needs of their students in addition to their academic needs. Chronic levels of emotional exhaustion can leave teachers feeling more isolated at school and believing that they’re less effective in their classrooms than they could be. Teachers with high stress and a moderate or low ability to cope with it—33 percent of the study population—reported higher rates of student behavior problems like being disruptive in class or not paying attention than did their colleagues in the well-adjusted group. So when teacher well-being isn’t supported, neither is the well-being of their students—the two are linked. Recommendations included: providing support services, provide proactive screen for signs of burnout, focus a positive school culture.
Herman, K. Rickhom-Rosa, J., & Reinke, W. W2017). Empirically derived profiles of teacher stress, burnout, self-efficacy, and coping and associated student outcomes. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 20(2), 90-100. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098300717732066