Factors associated with professional stress at the teachers

Abstract

Introduction

Teaching, as a profession, is recognized as demanding and stressful.

Objectives

(1) Evaluate the professional teacher stress, (2) Identify possible factors associated with it.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study, descriptive and analytical, conducted among teachers of high school Mahmoud Magdich in Sfax. (Tunisia). Participants were asked to complete the anonymous form detailing the socio-demographic, professional characteristics and any work stressors.

The evaluation of occupational stress was evaluated by the scale of “Karasek”.

Results

Thirty-six teachers replied to the questionnaires. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.38. The mean age was 48.77 years. The average number of years of exercise was 23.20 years and the average number of hours worked per week was 16.25 hours. The participants stress profile according to the scale of “Karasek” was: 55.6% stressed, 27.8%, assets, 11.1% liabilities, and 5.6% relaxed. The main stress factors mentioned were respectively: the inadequate salary (58.3%), difficult working conditions (52.8%), problems with students and parents (25%) and lack of organization at work (22.2%). Factors correlated with the profile “stressed” were: female gender (P = 0.026), lack of pastime practice (P = 0.034), teaching high school degree (P = 0.04), feeling that they work “too hard” in their work (P = 0.005), they are “the end” at the end of the working day (P = 0.015) and low social support (P = 0.005).

Conclusion

The occupational stress among teachers was quite important. Knowing how to identify factors and taking action would be interesting for the guarantee development for teachers. Students would be the ultimate beneficiaries.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.