Work-related stress in teachers: a comparison between male and female teachers

Abstract

Teacher's stress can become problematic and even hazardous, according to research. Teacher stress is a reaction to a negative effect, such as a reaction to workload, it is typically accompanied by potentially pathogenic, physiological and biochemical changes resulting from the demands of the job and its mediated by the teacher's perception that the demands pose a threat to their well-being and sense of self-worth. Compared to other occupations, teaching is the most demanding job in the world, according to numerous studies. The definition of teacher stress is discomfort or an unpleasant emotion and teacher stress can become problematic and even hazardous. The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the main causes on work-related stress experienced by male or female teachers. Two public sector universities of Faisalabad. University of Agriculture and GC University. Faisalabad have been selected conventily Sixty (60) teachers were selected for each university (30 male or 30 female) conventiely. A sample size of 120 teachers were selected purposely. The data collected through questionnaire will he analyzed by using SPSS. The study revealed that male university teachers reported significantly higher levels of work-related stress than their female counterparts, particularly in areas such as workload, tight deadlines, and lack of autonomy. However, both genders exhibited similar levels of job satisfaction and experienced comparable physical and mental health impacts due to stress, with only a few statistically significant differences. These findings emphasize the urgent need for gender-sensitive stress management strategies in public universities of Pakistan. It is recommended that institutions introduce tailored stress management programs, improve the availability of teaching resources, and reduce excessive workloads by hiring more staff. Additionally, enhancing institutional support through counseling services, transparent promotion policies, and recognition of teachers’ efforts is crucial. Professional development opportunities and time management training should also be prioritized to help teachers cope with organizational demands. Moreover, promoting work-life balance—particularly for female faculty through flexible working hours and family support initiatives can contribute to a healthier and more productive academic environment.

Key Words: Stress, Education, Performance, Impact