PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO TEACHER STRESS - A MOVE TOWARD MORE OBJECTIVE METHODOLOGIES

This paper presents the findings of a longitudinal study of psychophys iological and Psychosocial stress among UK teachers. Data were collect ed on two occasions, at the beginning and then the end of the Autumn t erm, by questionnaire and medical examination. The cross-sectional sam ple of teachers from primary and secondary schools were found to be mo re stressed than other occupational groups and against normative data for both psychosocial and physiological indices. Analysis of the diffe rences between the two time measurements revealed significant changes in blood chemistry, in particular in alcohol indicators. Further analy sis suggests a link between the changes in physiological responses and objective and subjective stressors within the teacher's environment. Multiple regression analyses, though limited, reveal that it is possib le to predict changes in these biochemical indicators of stress, thoug h more extensive research which utilises a comprehensive approach to t he study of stress is required.