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Reducing teacher stress: the effects of support in the work environment

This article investigates the effects of the level of support teachers receive on the reduction of stress which they experience associated with four factors in the work environment. The four factors, or stressors, are inadequate access to facilities, the intrusion of school work into out-of-hours time, student misbehaviour and excessive societal expectations. The two aspects of support are the support teachers receive from colleagues, including the principal, and the amount of praise and recognition they receive. These two variables are potential destressors. The hypothesis tested here is that, while the four stressors promote levels of teacher distress, the build-up of stress can be reduced or countered by supportive relationships within the work environment, and by teachers receiving acknowledgement of the work they do. At a time when teacher distress and 'burn-out' are at high levels it is important to identify factors which reduce stress, particularly factors in the school environment which are amenable to manipulation. The evidence presented here is drawn from a major study of teacher stress conducted in Western Australia.