Occupational Stress Felt by Teachers and Students

ABSTRACT: In fast-paced and demanding work environments such as education, occupational stress is a significant concern for all stakeholders. Occupational stress occurs when the demands of a job or organizational environment exceed an individual’s ability to cope, leading to a range of physical, emotional and psychological problems. As the nature of work evolves, understanding the causes, effects, and management strategies of occupational stress becomes increasingly important. Unfortunately, in educational environments, occupational stress affects both teachers and students. This stress can stem from various sources, including workload, expectations, and the emotional demands of the teaching and learning processes. Understanding the nature of this stress and its implications is crucial for fostering a healthier educational atmosphere. On the other hand, confronting stressors can lead to the emergence of adaptive mechanisms that will reduce the state of stress in subsequent interactions with different stressful situations. Although most of the time, stress only causes negative effects, such as reduced availability to communicate and interact with others (which can lead to social isolation and the appearance of negative transformations on an emotional, mental, or behavioral level), stress can also have a positive side, representing a challenge that will lead to personal development. KEYWORDS: occupational stress, coping, self-efficacy, anxiety, performance