Scottish and Australian teacher stress and strain: a comparative study

BACKGROUND: There is a widespread belief that teacher stress is a serious problem with obvious implications for teachers' physical and psychological health status as well as performance. There is much published research about teacher stress, although not about cultural or national group comparisons. AIM: This study examines the occupational stress, strain and personal coping resources of a comparative group of Scottish and Australian vocational teachers. SAMPLE: Three hundred and thirty two Scottish and Australian vocational and further education teachers. METHOD: A standardised test, the Occupational Stress Inventory, was used to gather the data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall it was found that stress and strain similarities between the two national groups far outweighed the differences. For instance, there were no between-group differences in strain levels, which were found to be at 'average' levels for both groups. Nevertheless, for both groups of teachers, role overload appeared to be a strong source of occupational stress.