Changes in the perception of stress and recovery in German secondary school teachers

ABSTRACT

Teachers’ job characteristics in Germany appear to predispose this population to high stress levels without sufficient recovery periods. This study aimed to analyse changes in the recovery-stress state of 40 German secondary school teachers to assess the health-related status quo of this population. The role of the school type for this development was also analysed. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire was administered four times (twice before, twice after the Christmas holiday period). A significant decrease in stress over the holidays followed by an increased stress level after the holidays was found. An increase in recovery was noted after the Christmas break which declined by late January. The school type was of subordinate relevance regarding the development of stress and recovery. The outcomes of this study indicate a fade-out of the beneficial holiday effects and underline the importance of the optimal use of recovery times to deal with occupational stress.

KEYWORDS:

• Health
• monitoring
• burnout
• coping
• education
• attrition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Kellmann

Prof. Dr Michael Kellmann is the Head of the Unit of Sport Psychology at the Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum (Germany) and Honorary Professor at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland (Australia). He is a member of several psychological associations and societies and has (co-)authored numerous books and articles concerning regeneration and recovery in elite athletes. His research focuses on different areas of regeneration and intervention in elite sports.

Jahan Heidari

Dr Jahan Heidari has a PhD in sport psychology and works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Unit of Sport Psychology at the Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany (since 2015). His research focuses on the examination of psychological underpinnings of recovery and stress in back pain development and chronification, as well as recovery monitoring in elite sports and teachers. He also works as an applied sports psychologist in a youth academy of a professional German football club (since 2018).