Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Teachers in the post-apartheid South Africa experience multiple, complex and constantly changing requirements within the teaching context, which contributes to high levels of stress.They are often faced with different challenges than those in more developed countries.For example, a lack of sufficient resources is a common occurrence in schools in South Africa.Furthermore, teachers regularly engage in multiple roles (e.g. that of the educator, social worker, nurse, etc.) Hence, some researchers identify teaching as a particularly stressful occupation, and suggest that teachers experience disproportionately high levels of stress, when compared to other occupations.Some reasons provided for the occurrence of this include long working hours, high workloads, lack of discipline and respect from learners, and the new South African curriculum, enforcing learner-centred or cooperative teaching methods.Consequences of teachers experiencing high levels of stress have ultimately resulted in the South African government admitting that they are facing a shortage in skilled teachers.Therefore, promoting the well-being of teachers is crucial.There is a need to invest in teacher well-being, in order to reduce the occurrence and consequences of stress in the workplace.The central role that emotions play in the stress process is increasingly recognised.It is said that an individual will experience stress and strain, if they perceive the situation as negative or stressful.For this reason, emotional intelligence (EI) has led to a new focus on the role of emotions in the workplace.More specifically, EI involves expressing, recognising, understanding and managing emotions.Research has proven that EI serves a buffering role against stress, and those individuals with higher EI experience better overall health.However, little research has explored the role that EI plays in the xiii
Author: Trudie Burger
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2121436426