Occupational stressors in the teaching profession : coping with the teacher and mother dual roles

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to identify and investigate the occupational stressors experienced by working mothers in the teaching profession. It also looked into these stressors in order to assess whether these 'spilled over' into the family domain and how they affected and influenced the motherhood role. The inverse, that is if the stress experienced in the family domain influenced the working world, was investigated. Data for this study was collected through qualitative interviews with selected participants. Five semi-structured interviews were carried out with working mothers who were in the teaching profession. The findings indicate that whilst work and family spill-over does have it positive effects on the multiple worker-mother-partner ro!e, one cannot assume that all is well in the work-family field. This study seems to point out that mothers in the teaching profession feel overwhelmed in carrying out both dual roles of mothers and teachers. Furthermore, it shows that stress spills-over from one domain onto the other. This affects relationships within the family. The inverse is also true; in that stress experienced at home especially when it involves child rearing, spills over into the school environment. Mothers tend to feel more stressed out and overwhelmed, having to cope with the various multiple roles in the running of everyday life.