Mathematics teacher stress in Chinese secondary schools

Abstract

Since the 1970s studies on teacher stress have become numerous. However, most of the existing research has been the product of western countries. There have been a few studies conducted in the People’s Republic of China. This study aims to investigate the general level of Chinese math teachers’ stress, its main sources, and the coping methods. The questionnaire, which was used in Taiwan (Kyriacou & Chien 2004), was administered to 211 secondary school math teachers who attended an in-service training program in the summer of 2007. This study revealed that teachers in China experience a higher level of stress compared to their counterparts in western countries and in other Chinese societies (eg Taiwan and Hong Kong). Moreover, rural teachers, young teachers, and teachers with less teaching experience reported being more stressed than their respective peers. This paper provides the possible explanations for the findings and suggestions for Chinese policy makers as well as for future studies in China.