The role of professional self-care practices in lowering anxiety among Filipino teachers enrolled in graduate studies

ABSTRACT

A common challenge among educators who enroll in graduate school is the balancing of their dual roles as teachers and graduate students. This exposes them to potential mental health concerns, such as anxiety. This cross-sectional study examined the role of professional self-care practices in alleviating anxiety among Filipino teachers enrolled in graduate studies. A survey was administered among 134 Filipino teachers enrolled in a Master’s degree program in education. Findings suggest that the majority of respondents had low levels of anxiety. Younger teachers, with less teaching experience, had higher anxiety scores. Moreover, younger male teachers exhibited significantly higher daily balance self-care, while teachers assigned in senior high school exhibited higher cognitive strategies self-care. Lastly, teachers who frequently practiced all dimensions of self-care were more likely to have lowered anxiety levels. These results signal the need for schools to implement programs to promote self-care among teachers, especially those pursuing graduate studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• graduate studies
• Philippines
• self-care
• teachers

Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to thank Sr. Felicitas Bernardo, SPC, Dean of the Graduate School of Education at St. Paul University Manila, who supported the conducting of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No external funding was used for this research.

Notes on contributors

Jerome V. Cleofas

Dr. Jerome V. Cleofas is an Associate Professor from the Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences of the De La Salle University. Currently, he is a Board Member of the Philippine Sociological Society and a member of the Research Capability Building Committee of the Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium.

Michelle F. Mijares

Ms. Michelle F. Mijares is an Assistant Professor from the College of Arts and Sciences of St. Paul University Manila. She teaches science and teacher education courses in the senior high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels.