Mental Health Experiences of Teachers: A Scoping Review

Authors

  • Kristen Ferguson Nipissing University
  • Melissa Corrente University of Ottawa
  • Ivy Bourgeault University of Ottawa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22329/jtl.v16i1.6856

Abstract

Teacher mental health continues to be of concern in elementary and secondary schools; however, supporting teacher wellbeing is understudied (Parker et al., 2012; Roffey, 2012), particularly from a gender perspective (Bourgeault et al., 2021). Among professionals, teachers exhibit one of the highest levels of job stress and burnout on the job. (Hakanen et al., 2006; Stoeber & Rennert, 2008). This scoping review investigates and consolidates the existing research on teacher mental health, leaves of absences, and return-to-work. Work context and personal factors/family context contribute to teacher stress and attrition and by extension may impact temporary leaves of absence (Pressley, 2021). Several articles report on interventions with moderate success to reduce teacher stress, but no studies evaluated return-to-work interventions (Ebert, 2014; Kwak et al., 2019). The amount of stress teachers are experiencing and the pressure that is causing them to burn out is the most common narrative present in the literature. The review highlights gaps in the literature surrounding teacher mental health, leaves of absence, and return-to-work and a notable gap regarding the role of gender.

Author Biographies

Kristen Ferguson, Nipissing University

Kristen Ferguson is a Professor of Education with Schulich School of Education at Nipissing University in North Bay. Her research interests include stress and coping in teaching, literacy education, literacy coaching, and professional development.

Melissa Corrente, University of Ottawa

Melissa Corrente is a Research Associate at the University of Ottawa. She teaches courses on health and physical education, and her research interests include teacher mental health and food literacy for children. Melissa has published articles in The Toronto Star, SAGE Research Methods, and the Physical and Health Education Journal.

Ivy Bourgeault, University of Ottawa

Ivy Lynn Bourgeault is a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the uOttawa Research Chair in Gender, Diversity, and the Professions.

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2022-04-27

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