PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE RURAL AREAS: AN INQUIRY (KEY IJP************642)

• Marife Guiritan

Abstract

AbstractPsychological well-being is becoming a growing concern in various fields, especially in the teaching profession. Psychological well-being is vital in the teaching profession as it talks about realizing human strengths and potential, which is necessary for innovation and creativity. Teaching is a rewarding but demanding profession. This paper explores teachersexperiences in Salapawan Elementary School and their psychological well-being for optimal functioning in teaching. The participants of this study were the eight teachers employing the qualitative design utilizing the phenomenological approach. The finding reveals that teachers encountered challenges such as emotional exhaustion, an unsafe working environment, and struggles incorporating cultural beliefs. The emotional health of the teachers reduces their ability to support and respond to pupils appropriately. It creates further difficulties, and more emotional distress jeopardizes teachersemotional health. Thus, teachers need to manage anxiety and control their emotions arising from work-related stress. Three themes came out to cope with mental stress: training and seminars on stress management, social support, and work-life balance. It reveals that teachers with optimum mental health display a high level of personal maturity and possess increased psychological well-being. It indicates further that the good psychological well-being of teachers is essential to enhance self-growth, sense of direction, and meaning or purpose in life. A thorough and more in-depth inquiry into the challenges of the psychological well-being of public school teachers is recommended to ensure better work-related well-being and greater adaptability, and a lesser degree of psychological collapse. Keywords: Psychological well-being, public school teachers in rural areasI.Introduction