Page 157 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 157
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-015-8.155-160
Distance teaching: perceived stress,
psychological health and work satisfaction
among classroom teachers
Janja Tekavc, Pia Novak
University of Maribor, Faculty of Education, Koroška cesta 160, Maribor, Slovenia
janja.tekavc@um.si; pia.novak@student.um.si
Abstract
Ninety-one Slovenian classroom teachers participated in a study
and completed an online questionnaire about their perceived level
of stress, wellbeing and work satisfaction during the period of distance
teaching due to epidemic of COVID-19. The results revealed that
teachers perceived similar amount of work-related stress during the
period of distance teaching as in general classroom setting. The majority
of teachers experienced none to minor symptoms of psychological
distress due to distance teaching working conditions, and reported
being predominantly satisfied with their work during the epidemic of
COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19, distance work, teaching, psychological distress,
wellbeing
Introduction
The pandemic of COVID-19 is presenting us with “uncertain times,” in which
the future of an individual as well as the whole society presents as unclear. The
pandemic emerges as a stressful and even traumatic event that requires indi-
viduals to make sense of the new situation and choose appropriate coping ac-
tions. Psychological theories and research on stress and individual coping are
of great relevance to understand individual responses and reactions to merging
stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (Guan et al., 2020).
The influence of the pandemic of COVID-19 has represented a career
transition to many people (Rudolph and Zacher, 2020). During the epidemic
of COVID-19, the majority of the Slovenian active population encountered a
changed way of working. Among them were also Slovenian teachers who car-
ried out distance teaching during the measures introduced in the fight against
Distance teaching: perceived stress,
psychological health and work satisfaction
among classroom teachers
Janja Tekavc, Pia Novak
University of Maribor, Faculty of Education, Koroška cesta 160, Maribor, Slovenia
janja.tekavc@um.si; pia.novak@student.um.si
Abstract
Ninety-one Slovenian classroom teachers participated in a study
and completed an online questionnaire about their perceived level
of stress, wellbeing and work satisfaction during the period of distance
teaching due to epidemic of COVID-19. The results revealed that
teachers perceived similar amount of work-related stress during the
period of distance teaching as in general classroom setting. The majority
of teachers experienced none to minor symptoms of psychological
distress due to distance teaching working conditions, and reported
being predominantly satisfied with their work during the epidemic of
COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19, distance work, teaching, psychological distress,
wellbeing
Introduction
The pandemic of COVID-19 is presenting us with “uncertain times,” in which
the future of an individual as well as the whole society presents as unclear. The
pandemic emerges as a stressful and even traumatic event that requires indi-
viduals to make sense of the new situation and choose appropriate coping ac-
tions. Psychological theories and research on stress and individual coping are
of great relevance to understand individual responses and reactions to merging
stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (Guan et al., 2020).
The influence of the pandemic of COVID-19 has represented a career
transition to many people (Rudolph and Zacher, 2020). During the epidemic
of COVID-19, the majority of the Slovenian active population encountered a
changed way of working. Among them were also Slovenian teachers who car-
ried out distance teaching during the measures introduced in the fight against
