Stress Vulnerability of Teachers: Input to Stress Management Project for Buhaynasapa National High School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension from any event or thought that makes someone feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. As a result, it may affect his/her attitude, physical well-being, or performance. Although teaching is a fulfilling profession, many teachers are facing problems like large class sizes, increasing workloads, and insufficient instructional materials. Such hostilities trigger stress among teachers. Likewise, stress is relative to the capacity of individuals to handle unfavorable situations; perhaps, the extent an individual is more likely to experience it is due to their own vulnerabilities. As such, this study aimed to assess the stress vulnerability of teachers with the end goal of providing recommendations in planning for a stress management project.

METHODS

The study used the descriptive method with Stress Vulnerability Scale developed by Miller and Smith (1988) as a research instrument. The respondents were the 67 teachers of Buhaynasapa National High School, School Year 2018-2019, obtained through purposive sampling. The researchers sought the approval of the authorities before personally administering the research instrument used.

RESULTS

As revealed in the study, 56.7% of the teachers' population isin age ranging from 22 to 34, 79.1% are female, and 53.7% are married. In addition, 47.8% are Teacher I, 49.3% are in the service for not more than 5 years, and 43.3% are with units leading to a Master's Degree. In terms of work-related attributes, 35.8% have one to three loads with one teaching preparations and 34.3% have more than four teaching loads, while 61.2% has one ancillary duty. On the other hand, 58.2% of their population are seriously vulnerable to stress and 40.3% are vulnerable. However, 1.5%is extremely vulnerable to stress. Using paired sample t-Test, the study found out that there are significant differences on the level of stress vulnerability of teachers in terms of sex, civil status, designation, teaching experience, educational attainment, and ancillary duties as evident on the obtained p-values lower than 0.05 level of significance.

DISCUSSIONS

The findings clearly indicate that the majority of the teachers at Buhaynasapa National High School are seriously vulnerable to stress. As such, it is highly recommended to conduct a stress management project with consideration the teachers' sex, civil status, designation, teaching experience, educational attainment, and ancillary duties.