The relationship of preference conflict management strategy and perceived stress in teachers of the Texas Seventh-day Adventist schools

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between perceived workplace stress levels and conflict management strategies of the Seventh-day Adventist Texas Conference teachers (K-10).

Procedures: The Organizational Communication Conflict Instrument (OCCI) and the Teaching Stress Questionnaire (TSQ) were administered to 86 teachers. Sixty-one teachers adequately completed the two surveys to provide data for this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS/PC+ statistical software.

Findings: Data analysis indicated that: (1) Respondents' perceived stress levels ranged from 18.3 percent perceiving mild stress to 6.7 percent perceiving extreme stress. (2) Respondents' measured stress levels showed 32.3 percent at the mild stress level, 62.7 percent at the moderate stress level, 5.1 percent at the very stressed level, and 0.0 percent at the extreme level. (3) All teachers reported a perception that the teaching profession is stressful with 11.5 percent perceiving it as extremely stressful. (4) A correlation was shown between the use of control conflict management strategy with teachers who showed higher levels of stress. (5) Individuals reported using the solution orientation conflict management strategy the most often the nonconfrontation strategy the second most often, and the control conflict management strategy the least often.

Conclusions: (1) Stress does exist in the Texas Conference teacher's workplace. (2) Teachers in the Texas Conference perceive their stress levels to be higher than those measured by the TSQ. (3) There is indication that training in conflict management strategies should diminish teacher stress levels.

Recommendations: From the analysis of the conclusions, it is recommended that: (1) a program be designed by the Texas Conference educational system to promote a better understanding of teacher workplace stress; (2) that the school system devise ways to control and manage workplace situations and conditions that are stress producing; (3) that a teacher training program in conflict management be designed and implemented for the purpose of stress reduction; (4) that further study be given to determine the discrepancy between teacher perceived and measured stress levels.

Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
1993
Author:
Billie J L Peckham
Order Information:
Full text not available online. Database: ProQuest Digital Dissertations
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Audience:
Administrator / Leader, Teacher / Faculty, Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist