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Links Between Stress, Positive and Negative Affect, and Life Satisfaction Among Teachers in Special Education Schools

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Abstract

This study focused on links between stress, positive and negative affect, and life satisfaction among teachers in special education schools. Teaching is a highly stressful profession, characterized by high rate of stress, burnout, and dropout. The study investigated: (a) whether teachers can maintain their positive affect and life satisfaction despite the stress they experience, and (b) the resources that may elicit positive affect and life satisfaction, including self-control as a personal skill and perceived organizational support (by peers, therapeutic staff, and manager) as an environmental resource. Participants were 125 teachers from 12 different special education schools. As expected, a positive link emerged between high stress levels and negative affect. Both self-control and organizational social support contributed to the explanation of positive affect and life satisfaction. Organizational support was found to moderate the link between stress and negative affect as well as the link between stress and positive affect and life satisfaction among teachers. The outcomes contributed both to the theoretical explanation about the role of resources in eliciting subjective well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction and also to the way teachers can be helped in daily coping with their difficulties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dee B. Ankonina for her editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Renata Adler Memorial Research Center for Child Welfare and Protection, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    Liat Hamama, Tammie Ronen, Keren Shachar & Michael Rosenbaum

  2. Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv University, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    Liat Hamama, Tammie Ronen & Keren Shachar

  3. Department of Psychology, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    Michael Rosenbaum

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  1. Liat Hamama
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Correspondence to Liat Hamama.

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Hamama, L., Ronen, T., Shachar, K. et al. Links Between Stress, Positive and Negative Affect, and Life Satisfaction Among Teachers in Special Education Schools. J Happiness Stud 14, 731–751 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9352-4

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