Archives of Hellenic Medicine

Last update:

05-Aug-2017

Arch Hellen Med, 34(4), July-August 2017, 504-510

ORIGINAL PAPER

Relationships between psychological well-being, happiness
and perceived occupational stress among primary school teachers

A. Poormahmood,¹ F. Moayedi,² K. Haji Alizadeh¹
¹Department of Psychology, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas
²Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral and Neurosciences Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran

OBJECTIVE To examine relationships between psychological well-being, happiness and perceived occupational stress among primary school teachers in Iran.

METHOD This cross-sectional study was carried out from September 23, 2014 to May 22, 2015 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. The sample size was 330, calculated according to the Morgan table. Three questionnaires were used for data gathering, specifically scales of perceived occupational stress and psychological well-being, and the Oxford Happiness Scale.

RESULTS The mean age of the participating teachers was 32.58±7.48 years. Significant negative correlation was demonstrated of occupational stress with life satisfaction (p<0.01, r=-0.81), spirituality (p<0.01, r=-0.64), joy and optimism (p<0.01, r=-0.52), individual development (p<0.01, r=-0.48), positive relationships with others (p<0.01, r=-0.74), and autonomy (p<0.01, r=-0.4), as well as with overall psychological well-being (p<0.01, r=-0.8). In addition, significant positive correlation was demonstrated between subjective well-being and happiness (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS Occupational stress in teaching may lead to poor psychological well-being and reduced happiness in primary school teachers.

Key words: Happiness, Perceived occupational stress, Psychological well-being, Teacher.