| Summary: | A wide range of occupations have been associated with psychological stress, and
the teaching profession has been considered as one of the most stressful jobs. This
study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological stress and its associated
factors among secondary school teachers. A cross-sectional study was conducted
among secondary school teachers in Samarahan and Asajaya districts using selfadministered
questionnaires. The status of psychological stress was measured
using the Malay version of DASS-21. The Teachers Stress Inventory was adapted
to identify the psychosocial factors. The overall prevalence of psychological stress
from this study was 19.5%. Out of 241 teachers, 9.1% had mild stress, 7.1% had
moderate stress, and 3.3% had severe to very severe stress. The prevalence of
psychological stress was significant among younger teachers, single, divorced or
widowed, and those with the least household income. Among occupational factors,
only the number of years of teaching experience has a significant relationship with
psychological stress. The logistic regression analysis identified four significant
elements associated with psychological stress, notably household income, anxiety,
depression and time management. As a conclusion, the burden of psychological
stress among school teachers can be associated with either individual factors or
work-related factors. The responsibility in managing mental health among teachers
does not only lie with the individual but at every level in the organisation. The
surveillance systems for early detection of psychological stress can be implemented
at the school level.
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