Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Chinthana Rajesh
- . Lena Ashok
- . Chythra R. Rao 1
- . Veena G. Kamath 1
- . Asha Kamath 2
- . Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran 3
- . Virupaksha Devaramane 4
- . V. Thippe Swamy 5
1 Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Data Sciences, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
4 Department of Psychiatry, Dr. AV Baliga Memorial Hospital, Udupi, Karnataka, India
5 Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Educators, academicians, and teachers are responsible for the development of
the nation’s human capital. Teacher coping methods are becoming more widely recognized as a key
factor in determining teacher effectiveness. The aim of this study was to identify the various coping
strategies adopted by high school teachers in Southern India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted in government, aided, and
unaided schools of Udupi, a coastal district in Southern India. A self‑administered questionnaire was
used to collect the data from 460 high school teachers chosen based on convenience sampling.
The coping strategies were identified using a modified version of Brief COPE(Coping Orientation to
Problems Experienced) Inventory (Carver, 1997). Data were entered using SPSS version 15 and
descriptive statistics was performed.
RESULTS: The study found that teachers had moderate level of coping skills in all domains. The most
popular coping techniques used by secondary school teachers were positive reframing, active coping,
and planning; nevertheless, substance use was recognized as the least popular coping strategy.
CONCLUSION: Positive reframing, active coping, and preparation were the most commonly used
coping strategies by the teachers in the survey. Teachers are a vital resource who have received less
attention than they deserve for their psychological well‑being. A customized intervention program
based on their perceived needs could be a good place to start.
Keywords
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