Exploring the Influence of Teacher's Stress and Emotions on Student Behavior in Secondary Schools

Rabia Obaid; Ahmad Saeed

Authors

Rabia Obaid Lecturer, Hamdard University, Pakistan.
Ahmad Saeed Professor, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.

Keywords:

Teacher Stress, Emotional Exhaustion, Student Behavior, Classroom Management, Teacher-Student Relationships

Abstract

The focus of this study is on the intricate relationship between the stress of the teacher, the emotion of the teacher, and the behavior of the workers in secondary school classrooms, stressing the bidirectional relation (between) the emotional well-being of (the teacher) and the engagement of (the worker). Qualitative data from interviews with teachers and students are drawn on to investigate how emotional exhaustion, workload pressures, and the absence of institutional support prevent teacher regulation of emotion, and inhibit effective classroom management. What they found was that students can pick up on teacher stress, often based on what students perceive to be nonverbal cues, tone, and expressions, and those interpretations lead to the classroom behaviors of the students. Positive emotions by teachers develop trust, focus, and engagement, whereas frustration, inconsistency, and unpredictability engender student disengagement, increased disruptive behaviors, and strained relationships between teachers and students. These same emotional dynamics are catalyzed further by cultural factors; for instance, hierarchical power structures influence the context within which students respond to teacher stress. The systemic institutional support mechanisms are also lacking resulting in a cascade of emotional exhaustion followed by diminished classroom effectiveness. This study highlights the importance of emotional intelligence training, proactive classroom management strategies, and robust institutional support systems in a bid to reduce teacher stress and create a stable, positive learning environment. These results add to existing literature on the emotional well-being of teachers and provide practical suggestions to educational policymakers, administrators, and teacher training programs on addressing the emotional and psychological demands of teachers in today’s classrooms.

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