The Measurement of Stress Among Regular Classroom and Special Education Teachers

The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of occupational stress between regular and special education teachers. Also, symptoms of stress for both groups of teachers were compared, as were the strategies used by each group to reduce the effects of stress in teaching. Results indicated that special education teachers perceive less stress from teaching than regular classroom teachers. There were very small differences beween the two groups in symptoms of stress and strategies used to reduce the effects of stress. Both groups seem about equally disposed to use appropriate strategies for reducing stress. There was no difference between the two groups when they were assessed about becoming teachers again if they had their lives to live over again. One explanation for the differences on perceptions of stress is that special education teachers have training procedures prepare them for stress in teaching. Also, classes in special cation are generally smaller and more resources are availa special education teachers. Still another explanation is that cial education teachers have a similar set of characteristic insulate them from some effects of stress.