The well-being of staff in a Welsh secondary school before and after a COVID-19 lockdown

Smith, Andrew P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8805-8028 and James, Arwel 2021. The well-being of staff in a Welsh secondary school before and after a COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science 34 (4) , pp. 42-51. 10.9734/jebs/2021/v34i430319

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Abstract

Background: There has been extensive research on the well-being of teachers, with much of it focusing on stress and mental health problems. Recent research has led to the development of the well-being process model, which examines predictors of positive and negative well-being outcomes. Research is now required to examine this model's applicability to teachers and those who communicate in languages other than English. Well-being has also been reduced by social isolation associated with COVID-19, and it is essential to investigate the causes of this reduced well-being. Aims: The present study had three main aims. First, to examine the applicability of the well-being process model to teachers. Secondly, to investigate a sample where teaching was in the Welsh language. Finally, to examine the response to the COVID-19 lockdown in this group and identify predictors of current and long term well-being. Methodology: The research was approved by the ethics committee, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, and carried out with the informed consent of the volunteers (67 staff from a Welsh-medium secondary school; mean age 36.8 years, range 19-53 years; 71% female). An online survey was carried out, and regressions conducted to examine associations between the well-being process predictor variables and the well-being outcomes. Predictors of current and long term well-being were also examined. Results: Thirty-six per cent of the sample reported high stress levels, but clinically significant anxiety and depression levels were low (7.2% anxiety; 4.4% depression). Positive well-being was predicted by high scores for psychological capital, social support, positive coping and low scores for negative work characteristics. Negative well-being was predicted by high negative work characteristics and negative coping, and low psychological capital scores. Current and long term COVID-19-related well-being was predicted by fear of infection and the stress of isolation. Conclusion: The results confirmed the applicability of the well-being process model to Welsh secondary school staff. Lockdown during COVID-19 affected well-being, with the risk of infection and the stress of isolation being the major influences.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Additional Information:	Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
ISSN:	2456-981X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	14 June 2021
Date of Acceptance:	8 June 2021
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 05:57
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/141885

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