Mental Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Teachers in Malaysia

Abstract

The teaching profession has been consistently ranked as the most stressful job in the world today. Teachers who experience prolonged exposure to high levels of work-related stress can find there to be a detrimental effect on their physical health, mental health, social life, and work performance. This study aims to characterise the mental health and wellbeing of secondary school teachers in Malaysia according to gender and age group. We examined burnout levels among 776 secondary school teachers who were measured across three dimensions (i.e., depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment), as well as their sources of stress, manifestations of stress, and psychological symptoms. The quantitative data analysis revealed that most of the teachers had experienced burnout in terms of their personal accomplishments, work-related stressors, and time management, and that it mostly manifested as fatigue. Overall, the sample of secondary school teachers in Malaysia indicates a risk of poor mental health. Further psychological interventions and self-care programs are suggested to help secondary school teachers cope with the early signs of burnout.