Abstract:
This study aimed at identifying the strategies used by secondary school teachers in Nablus Governorate to cope with psychological stress facing them. It also aimed at finding out whether there were statistically significant differences among strategies which may be attributed to sex, academic qualification, experience and, place of work variables. This study endeavored to test the following hypotheses:
1. There are no statistically significant differences at α = 0.05 in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to sex variable.
2. There are no statistically significant differences at α = 0.05 in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to place of work.
3. There are no statistically significant differences at α = 0.05 in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to academic qualification.
4. There are no statistically significant differences at α = 0.05 in teachers' use of coping strategies which may be attributed to experience variable.
The sample of the study consisted of 241 teachers : 126 males and 115 females. The sample represented a number of schools in Nablus governorate.
The subjects of the study population ( 963 men and women teachers) were chosen randomly. The researcher administered coping strategies inventory with psychological stress on the subjects of the study. The inventory consisted of 49 items distributed among nine strategies: problem-solving strategy, physical exercise strategy, defense means strategy, relaxation training strategy, self-control strategy, isolation and withdrawal strategy, recreation strategy, social support strategy and religious dimension strategy. AV -2- The questionnaire reliability was checked by presenting it to 11 referees at Najah University. Validity of questionnaire was calculated by retesting and by using Pearson correlation coefficient and it was 0.73. Cronbach alpha was also used to calculate the questionnaire internal consistency.
It was 0.87. To answer the question of the study, the researcher used arithmetic averages and percentages. T-test was used to test the first and second hypotheses. To test the third, fourth, and fifth hypotheses, the researcher used the One-Way Analysis of Variance.
Study Findings
1. It was found that teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress was high on the problem solving, self-control and religious dimension strategies, moderate on isolation and withdrawal, relaxation training, social support and defense means strategies. However, it was low on recreation and physical exercise strategies. In general, the teacher's use of strategies combined was moderate.
2. There were no statistically significant differences in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to sex variable.
3. There were no statistically significant differences in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to place of work variable.
4. There were no statistically significant differences in teachers' use of coping strategies with psychological stress which may be attributed to experience variable. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends the following:
A. Recommendations for researchers A. Conducting further studies that tackle teachers' coping strategies with psychological stress in order to buttress the credibility of the study findings on teachers of other school stages and talking into consideration primary and coeducational schools.
B. Conducting studies on Palestinian university faculty members to identify their coping strategies to alleviate psychological stress facing them.
||.Recommendations for concerned authorities in the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
A. Concerning those running the pre-service teacher training program in the faculties of education in universities, community colleges in Palestine and the Arab countries in general, there is a need for more interest in physical exercise strategy through the training of teachers on this strategy and consulting specialists in this field.
B. The Palestinian Ministry of Education Department of Training and Educational Rehabilitation should hold in-service teacher training courses on how to use the coping strategies discussed in this study. It should also provide them with academic publications that help them in using coping strategies when dealing with psychological stress.
|||. Recommendations for teachers
A. Teachers should make active use of weekends for recreational activities and leave aside routine work.
B. Teachers should adopt problem-solving strategy and get training on how to use it in different mundane situations and affairs.
C. Teachers should adopt relaxation strategy and get training on using it in different life situations.