Understanding the Anxiety Level of Rural School Teachers: Basis for Anxiety Management Model

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Teachers' anxiety is a complex emotional and affective state which is associated with feelings of uneasiness, self-doubt, and apprehension. Teachers may perceive considerable levels of anxiety in teaching settings outside the classroom. The size of the school, the number of pupils, and the teaching assignment are contextual factors which may create anxiety to the teachers. In this study, the factors affecting teachers' anxiety were identified and formed basis for anxiety management model.

METHODS

The study utilized mixed method research design. Mixed methods research is a methodology for conducting research that involves collecting, analyzing, and integrating quantitative and qualitative research. The researcher responded tothe following sub-questions using the assessment on the factors that may contribute to teacher's anxiety and the standardized questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The respondents of the study were teachers from selected public elementary school in the District of Talisay, Batangas during the school year 2016-2017.

RESULTS

The data shows that the teachers' performance rating in IPCRF was 4.30 with a verbal interpretation of "Very Satisfactory”. In the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, it is significant to note that most of the respondents have the percentage belonging to above normal /very high level of anxiety, with 73 or 75.26%. A-Trait Anxiety finding shows that most of the teacher-respondents anxiety level belong to below normal or low with frequency of 56 or 57.73 %; while only 14 or 14.44% belong to above normal or very high level of anxiety. Further t-test revealed a t-value of2.508 which was greater than the critical tabular t-value of 0.241.

DISCUSSIONS

Theoretically this would allow the teachers to develop resistance to teaching anxiety. Ideally, it would help them cope with the factors that might lead to anxiety and ultimately to their choice to leave the teaching profession altogether. In this way, the model appears to be a potentially valuable instrument that teachers could utilize and use in their teaching careers. The study further proposed implementation of the model on anxiety, to increase cooperation with the school through participation in the Parent-Teachers Association with the hope that parents can be of help to the teachers in their journey of providing quality education to participate in all activities that and will definitely resulted to a more inspiring mission of vocation of guiding the student's future.