Sources of stress in preschool teachers and their personality traits

Sa？etak The interaction of the personalities of teachers (including her/his disposition coping skills) and social, physical and technical environment contributes to the experience of stress at work, as well as the daily operation of teachers and the quality of their relationship with children. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of forecasting the general perceived stress and sources of stress based on criteria describing teachers' personality traits (optimism/pessimism, emotional competence, self-efficacy), seniority and variables of dispositional and situational style of coping with stress. The study included 336 preschool teachers in Split-Dalmatia County. Multiple measurement instruments were used: scale for the assessment of stressfulness, optimism-pessimism scale, general self-efficacy scale, social desirability scale, emotional competence questionnaire EUK-15, questionnaire on coping styles in stressful situations, and questionnaire on coping with stressful situations. Results show that the statistically significant predictors for two criteria, general experience of stress and interpersonal relationships as sources of stress, are work experience and dispositional coping with stress, focused on emotions. Statistically significant predictors for the criteria covering relationships with parents, children's behaviour and working conditions as sources of stress are self-efficacy and dispositional coping focused on emotions. These findings could help design and improve programs that aim to prevent stress, but also promote adoption of effective strategies for situational coping with stress, along with developing the skills of social interaction