Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective

The teaching profession is among the most stressful occupations associated with high workloads and stress. Teacher wellbeing has received increasing attention, as it is a key factor not only to the wellbeing of the teachers, but also to their students, as well as to the prosperity of the schools an...

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Main Authors: Stina F. Lähteenmäki, Lisbeth M. Fagerström, Anna K. Forsman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UCOPress 2024-11-01
Series:Psychology, Society & Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/17096
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author Stina F. Lähteenmäki
Lisbeth M. Fagerström
Anna K. Forsman
author_facet Stina F. Lähteenmäki
Lisbeth M. Fagerström
Anna K. Forsman
author_sort Stina F. Lähteenmäki
collection DOAJ
description The teaching profession is among the most stressful occupations associated with high workloads and stress. Teacher wellbeing has received increasing attention, as it is a key factor not only to the wellbeing of the teachers, but also to their students, as well as to the prosperity of the schools and communities alike. The present study aimed to investigate teacher wellbeing from a salutogenic perspective emphasizing positive health, wellbeing, and health promotion principles. A survey was sent to members of a trade union for Finnish teachers in spring 2020. In total, 1,312 teachers responded to the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS), the main measurement used in this study. About 81% of the respondents were women and the majority of the participants (91%) were over 30 years old. Findings from this cross-sectional study reveal that older teachers and teachers with longer work experience reported significantly better perception of energy, cognitive ability, and expression of feelings, compared to younger teachers with more limited work experience, as well as a decrease in perceived stress. In conclusion, older, more experienced teachers were seen to be better able to cope with workplace stressors compared to their younger counterparts, which presumably is linked to a stronger sense of coherence.
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spelling doaj-art-a5c8dc68ce8a43fe806cb7bbf5bce3bd2025-08-20T02:38:25ZengUCOPressPsychology, Society & Education1989-709X2024-11-0116310.21071/pse.v16i3.17096Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspectiveStina F. Lähteenmäki0Lisbeth M. Fagerström1Anna K. Forsman2Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa (Finland)Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa (Finland), University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen (Norway)Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa (Finland) The teaching profession is among the most stressful occupations associated with high workloads and stress. Teacher wellbeing has received increasing attention, as it is a key factor not only to the wellbeing of the teachers, but also to their students, as well as to the prosperity of the schools and communities alike. The present study aimed to investigate teacher wellbeing from a salutogenic perspective emphasizing positive health, wellbeing, and health promotion principles. A survey was sent to members of a trade union for Finnish teachers in spring 2020. In total, 1,312 teachers responded to the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS), the main measurement used in this study. About 81% of the respondents were women and the majority of the participants (91%) were over 30 years old. Findings from this cross-sectional study reveal that older teachers and teachers with longer work experience reported significantly better perception of energy, cognitive ability, and expression of feelings, compared to younger teachers with more limited work experience, as well as a decrease in perceived stress. In conclusion, older, more experienced teachers were seen to be better able to cope with workplace stressors compared to their younger counterparts, which presumably is linked to a stronger sense of coherence. https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/17096Occupational healthSalutogenic factorsTeachersSense of coherenceCOVID-19
spellingShingle Stina F. Lähteenmäki
Lisbeth M. Fagerström
Anna K. Forsman
Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
Psychology, Society & Education
Occupational health
Salutogenic factors
Teachers
Sense of coherence
COVID-19
title Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
title_full Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
title_fullStr Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
title_full_unstemmed Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
title_short Investigating self-rated health and wellbeing among teachers in Finland from a salutogenic perspective
title_sort investigating self rated health and wellbeing among teachers in finland from a salutogenic perspective
topic Occupational health
Salutogenic factors
Teachers
Sense of coherence
COVID-19
url https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/17096
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AT lisbethmfagerstrom investigatingselfratedhealthandwellbeingamongteachersinfinlandfromasalutogenicperspective
AT annakforsman investigatingselfratedhealthandwellbeingamongteachersinfinlandfromasalutogenicperspective