Dealing with occupational stress: a case study of five special education teachers in Selangor

• Main Author: Abd Karim, Aishah Hanim
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English; English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: LB1050.9 Educational psychology
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/102179/1/BUKU%20ABSTRAK%20MEDC%202022.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/102179/7/Sijil%20MEDC%20UPSI%202022.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/102179/9/Proof%20Paper%20Has%20Been%20Accepted.jpg; http://irep.iium.edu.my/102179/10/102179_Dealing%20with%20occupational%20stress.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/102179/

The present study aims to discover special education teachers’ reaction to occupational stress and their coping strategies in dealing with stress during and outside school hours. The qualitative phenomenological research applied case study method among five special education teachers in Selangor, with ages ranged from 26 to 51 years old, involving three females and two male teachers. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. It was then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that these teachers experienced anger, tiredness, frustration and annoyance toward students, parents, and school authorities. Among the coping strategies used during school hours were sharing problem with colleagues, using phones during break, eating chocolate, drinking enough water, taking short naps, discussing problems with school management and applying new teaching pedagogy; while their coping strategies applied outside school hours include going for a vacation and sharing problems with families and close friends. Further research needs to be done to help them reduce occupational stress and eventually produce healthy and positive working environment.