EDU3093 Teacher and Current

Challenges
Topic 4 Emotional Stress Among
Teachers

The Concept of Emotional Stress

Teachers stress refer to the experience faced by
the teacher towards undesirable emotion such as
stress, frustration and anger as the effect of his
role as a teacher (Kyriacou, 2000)
Stress is a common physical response towards
any matter or incident which end up with
imbalance situation.

 Stress which go beyond the limit will cause

health, relationship, feeling and productivity to
decline which may affect the quality of life.

Types of Stress (Cockburn, 1996)

Here or now
- A situation which happen at a particular time
- e.g. Teacher in the exam situation
Anticipation
- Teacher will respond towards expected event
- e.g. The PTA meeting at the end of semester

 Imaginative
- An Individual will be imaginative about
something eerie and frightening situation
- e.g. Thinking of the thieves who might come
Reactive
- Stress which occur from the past event
- e.g. Feeling depress after someones death

 Negative
- Something ascend in a period of time either
daily, weekly, annual
- e.g. Short of money

Causes of Stress (NUTP)

Pressure by the parents

Workloads
Promotion prospect
Unfair salary increment
School location and infrastructure

Causes of Stress (Dunham & Varma, 1998)

Demotivated students
Classroom discipline
Time and workload
Evaluation by other parties
Self-concept and status
Admin and management unit
Inconducive learning environment

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Cognitive memory problem, loss of focus,
unfair assessment
Emotional moody, irritability, loneliness,
depression, grief
Physical joint pain, migraine, external or
internal health problem
Behaviour Over/ lack of eat, sleep,
irresponsibility, procrastination, drug-addict

Ways to Overcome Stress

Learn how to say no and dont want in personal
or professional life (assertive)
Avoid the individuals which may cause stress
Add more or strengthen relationship with colleagues
Share views and express feelings with reliable
friends and family members
Encourage individual to involve in group discussion
and forum
Write personal journal as well as evaluate personal
weaknesses

Suggested Activities to Reduce Stress

Lunch with colleagues

Giving others hand
Sightseeing with friends
Surf internet
Sports, yoga

The Concept of Burnout

Physically and psychologically depleted.
Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and
reduced personal accomplishment (Schwab et.
al., 1986)

Burnout
Teacher exhibits signs of emotional exhaustion when
they feel that they can no longer give of themselves to
students as they did earlier in their career
They become depersonalized, developing negative,
cynical and sometimes callous attitudes towards
students, parents and colleagues.
They have feelings of diminished personal
accomplishment when they perceived themselves as
ineffective in helping students to learn and
unmotivated in fulfilling their their school
responsibilities

 Teachers who fall victim to burnout are likely to

be less sympathetic towards students, have a
lower tolerance for classroom disruption, be less
apt to prepare adequately for class, and feel less
committed and dedicated to their work (Farber
& Miller, 1981)

Signs of Burnout
Feeling fatigue almost everyday and often face
obstacles which are difficult to be solved
Consider the professional responsibility as a
futile effort and unhelpful
Declination of performance and interpersonal
relationships at work and home.

Differences Between Stress and Burnout

Stress

Burnout

Excessive involvement

Escape from involvement

Anxious and hyperactive

Helplessness and give up

Create anxiety

Create isolation and

depression
Motivation and aspiration
declined
Emotional disturbance

Break up (energy loss)

Physical injury which might
cause die too soon

Causes of Burnout

Lifestyle
Teachers personality
Work pressure
Lack of recognition for good work
Prolonged stress

Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

Physical feeling fatigue all the time,
inconsistent sleeping and eating habits,
headache muscle ache
Emotional sense of failure and self-doubt,
demotivated, dissatisfaction, isolation
Behavioural withdraw from responsibility, task
procrastination, taking medicines or alcohols to
solve problems, come late to work

Ways to Overcome Burnout

Doing exercise and stretching

Meditation
Reading inspiring books
Writing journals
Attending time/ stress management workshop
Mentoring program for novice teacher
Professional Development Program
Creating conducive environment

Conclusion
Teachers need to enhance emotional intelligence
to avoid the symptoms of stress and burnout and
at the same time create a conducive working
atmosphere.
Teachers must know themselves and be able to
choose the best way to deal with emotional stress
effectively.

Main Reference
Noriati A. Rashid., Boon, P. Y., Sharifah
Fakhriah Syed Ahmad., & Zuraidah A. Majid.
(2010). Guru dan cabaran semasa. Shah Alam:
Oxford Fajar.