The psychological well-being of schoolteachers in South Africa: A critical review

Abstract

Teaching is a stressful occupation associated with various challenges that may adversely affect schoolteachers’ psychological well-being (PWB) and the provision of quality basic education. The nature and effects of teacher PWB may depend on their work context. This critical review aimed to synthesise and evaluate the evidence from available scientific literature on schoolteacher PWB within the South African context. We searched the following databases: African Journals, NWU-IR, Academic Search Complete, Africa-Wide Information, APA PsycInfo, OAlster, Directory of Open Access Journals, Library Catalogue, SciELO, SocINDEX with Full Text, MEDLINE, ERIC, CINAHL with Full Text, Springer Nature Journals, Teacher Reference Center, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, and Business Source Complete. For rigour of the search and analysis process, we employed the Search, AppraisaL, Synthesis, and Analysis (SALSA) method. This critical review research study included a final sample of 12 studies. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and the following themes were identified: teaching as a stressful occupation; intrapersonal factors that affect teachers’ PWB; contextual factors that influence teachers’ PWB; differences in levels of teacher PWB; and the consequences of high or low levels of teacher PWB. To work towards the provision of quality basic education, it is vital to first acknowledge the importance of schoolteachers’ PWB in South Africa. With a clear and comprehensive understanding of teacher PWB, it is possible to implement interventions to promote and enhance teachers’ PWB in schools in South Africa.