Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia

Background: Teaching has been identified as a highly stressful job. Recent changes such as the increasing use of information technology and diversity of teacher's role potentially increase the stress even further. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distr...

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Main Authors: Othman, Zahiruddin, Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/45290/1/71-37Othman.pdf
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author Othman, Zahiruddin
Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar
author_facet Othman, Zahiruddin
Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar
author_sort Othman, Zahiruddin
collection USM
description Background: Teaching has been identified as a highly stressful job. Recent changes such as the increasing use of information technology and diversity of teacher's role potentially increase the stress even further. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary school teachers in Klang zone, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 356 teachers from 6 randomly selected secondary schools in Klang zone were recruited into the study. The Malay Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) was employed to measure the psychological distress depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: The teachers had a high prevalence of depressive (43.0%), anxiety (68.0%) and stress (32.3%) symptoms. While severe to extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress were reported by 9.9%, 23.3% and 7.0% of subjects, respectively. Depression, anxiety, and stress were consistently more common among teachers with socio-demographic and work-related characteristics such as female, lowest educational status, having 1-3 children, staying with in-laws, shorter distance to school, living in a high-rise building and own house. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were high among secondary schools teachers. Appropriate steps should be taken to improve the mental health of teachers, thereby ensuring good quality education.
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spelling usm.eprints-452902019-08-26T07:18:04Z http://eprints.usm.my/45290/ Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia Othman, Zahiruddin Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry Background: Teaching has been identified as a highly stressful job. Recent changes such as the increasing use of information technology and diversity of teacher's role potentially increase the stress even further. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary school teachers in Klang zone, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 356 teachers from 6 randomly selected secondary schools in Klang zone were recruited into the study. The Malay Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) was employed to measure the psychological distress depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: The teachers had a high prevalence of depressive (43.0%), anxiety (68.0%) and stress (32.3%) symptoms. While severe to extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress were reported by 9.9%, 23.3% and 7.0% of subjects, respectively. Depression, anxiety, and stress were consistently more common among teachers with socio-demographic and work-related characteristics such as female, lowest educational status, having 1-3 children, staying with in-laws, shorter distance to school, living in a high-rise building and own house. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were high among secondary schools teachers. Appropriate steps should be taken to improve the mental health of teachers, thereby ensuring good quality education. Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation 2019-04 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.usm.my/45290/1/71-37Othman.pdf Othman, Zahiruddin and Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar (2019) Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia. International Medical Journal, 26 (2). pp. 71-74. ISSN 1341-2051 http://www.seronjihou.co.jp/IMJ/backnumber-IMJ.html
spellingShingle RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Othman, Zahiruddin
Sivasubramaniam, Vevehkanandar
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title_full Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title_fullStr Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title_short Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Secondary School Teachers in Klang, Malaysia
title_sort depression anxiety and stress among secondary school teachers in klang malaysia
topic RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
url http://eprints.usm.my/45290/1/71-37Othman.pdf
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