This study examined occupational stress and effectiveness among senior secondary school teachers in India. The researchers found that less effective teachers, both male and female, reported higher levels of occupational stress than more effective teachers. Female teachers experienced more stress than male teachers, with 90% of female teachers found to be stressed. Higher occupational stress was correlated with lower teaching effectiveness. The four main sources of occupational stress identified were role conflict, role ambiguity, poor interpersonal relationships, and heavy workload. The study suggests addressing sources of stress in order to improve teacher enthusiasm, accountability, and job satisfaction.

1. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
Research Paper
A study of occupational stress among senior secondary
School teachers in relation to their effectiveness.
January,2013 * Dr. Vandana Gandhi ** Ms. Sharda
* Asso. Prof, R.L.S. College of Education, Sidhrawali (Gurgaon)
** Asstt. Prof.
Stress is an unavoidable consequence of modern liv- Sulchiffe (1998) in his study identified three main fac-
ing. With the growth of industries, pressure of urban tors - salary, status and reforms as influencing the
life, quantitative growth in population and various day teacher's effectiveness. Occupational stress among
to day problems are some of the reasons for increase the teachers has because an area of interest among
in stress. Stress is a condition of strain that has a direct researchers and practitioners in many fields during the
bearing on emotions, thought process, physical and past few decades. Researchers have identified numer-
emotional condition of a person. ous personal background characteristics of educators
Hans Selye, a psychologist and physiologist, who appear to be experiencing stress as reflected in
first introduced the concept of stress into life - science recent studies conducted in countries like U.K., U.S.A,
in 1936. He defined stress as "the force, pressure or Israel and Australia. The causes and perception of
strain exerted upon a material object or person which occupational stress have acquired great importance in
resist these forces and attempt to maintain its original the present state in India also.
state." Objectives of the study
Stress, among the Professionals like • To identify the highly effective and less effective
physicians, lawyers, doctors, nurses is highly prevalent senior secondary school teachers.
today .This occupational stress seriously affects the • To study the level of occupational stress of senior
teaching community also (Maslach 1981). Teachers secondary school teachers.
play the most significant role in the system of education,
facilitate learning and help in developing healthy rela-
• To compare the occupational stress of private senior
tionship between pupils and the societies in which secondary school teachers and government senior
they live. Increasing consciousness for education due secondary school teachers.
to increasing competition among students for achiev- • To compare the teachers effectiveness of private
ing their goals added more pressure and stress on and government senior secondary school teachers.
teachers. • To determine the relationship between teacher effec
Fimian (1986) revealed that "a number of vari- tiveness and occupational stress of senior second
ables such as role problems, loss of control, isolation, ary school teachers.
dissatisfaction with scale of pay, role overloaded, role Sample:
ambiguity and lack of administrative support are asso- The population for the present study com-
ciated with teachers' stress and reduce the account- prised of all the private and government schools of
ability of teachers towards their profession." Gurgaon. The sample consisted of 60 senior secondary
Relationship between stress & performance school teachers out of two blocks of Gurgaon district,
If stress is low, individuals may find that their from six schools (03 private & 03 government schools).
performance is low because they are bored, lack Tools and Techniques
concentration and motivation. In contrast if the stress • Indore teachers job stressors scale (ITJSS)
is too high, their performance can suffer from all the standardized by Dr. Mrs. Meena Buddhisagar Rathod
symptoms of stress reaction. The zone of best and Dr. (Mrs.) Madhulika Verma.
performance is ensured when there is a moderate level • KULSUM Teacher effectiveness scale (KTES) stan
of stress. If the individual is at this level, he/she will be dardized by Dr.(Mrs.) Umme Kulsum.
sufficiently aroused to perform well without being over
stressed and unhappy. Prolonged occupational stress
• The statistical techniques used are mean, standard
can lead to occupational burnout. Occupational burn- deviation - T -value and Coefficient of correlation.
out is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism & reduced Findings:
professional efficiency at the work place. * The less effective teachers (both male & female) are
more stressed than the highly effective teachers.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 69

2. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
• This study shows that female teachers are more viate this stress in order to enhance their enthusiasm
stressed than their male counterparts. in teaching and promote accountability and satisfac-
• 75% of the male senior secondary school teachers tion towards their profession.
were found to be under stress. Work load of the teachers showed be monitored and
maintained by establishing proper pupil-teacher ratio.
• 90% of the female senior secondary school teachers Healthy academic atmosphere should be encouraged
were found to be stressed. and special orientation programmers be organized with
• The occupational stress affected the teacher's effi the objective of overcoming occupational stress. Yoga
ciency. With the increase in occupational stress, and meditation camps may also be beneficial. Some-
effectiveness was reduced. what relaxed work schedule should be provided to the
• The results showed that private senior secondary female teachers.
school teachers were more effective than the Govt. The present study has its implications for government,
Senior Secondary school teachers. administrators and community members. Most disturb-
• The four main aspects of occupational stress are ing causes of stress are lack of social status and heavy
role conflict, role ambiguity, frail interpersonal rela workload. So it is essential that the socio-economic
tionship and work load. status of the teachers must be raised, inducing a sense
Implications: of respect for the teaching community, salaries need to
It is clear from the present study that if the be regularly revised, work load should be monitored
stress among teachers is left unresolved, the educa- and healthy relationship should be developed among
tional system will be impaired and insufficiency will be colleagues, students and administrators. Performance
restored. The study points out those teachers who are appraisal and suitable rewards may also help to reduce
under high level of occupational stress are less effec- stress and bridge gap between the highly effective &
tive in their profession. Occupational stress is nega- less effective teachers.
tively correlated with the effectiveness of the teacher.
Certain concrete measures must be undertaken to alle-
R E F E R E N C E
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