Teachers' Stress Levels Affecting Performance

LONDON, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A new survey of teachers throughout Britain has today revealed that stress levels within the profession are affecting the ability of teachers to successfully perform their roles. Research conducted by Teachers Assurance, the financial services provider for teachers and their families, found that 76% of teachers believed their stress levels were having repercussions on their health, while 56% elected that they would definitely be better at their job if they were less stressed.

Financial worries were the burden of many teachers surveyed, causing more stress to the profession than either health or personal worries. Of the survey respondents 50% identified they faced severe or average levels of stress due to financial worries. Changes to pay and benefits were also contributing to increased stress for those affected, with 64% identifying that the threat or introduction of Performance Related Pay had served to increase their stress levels. Overall just 19% of teachers identified that they suffered from no financial stress whatsoever, while 35% worried about their finances several times per week.

Jayne Morris, resident life coach for NHS Online Health and a professional stress and wellbeing expert provided her thoughts on the survey: "The findings of the recent study conducted by Teachers Assurance highlight that the significant majority of teachers suffer from stress, with 83% of teachers reporting that due to stress they constantly felt tired. Fatigue is incredibly detrimental to a teacher's ability to carry out their work effectively, which in turn negatively affects the quality of their teaching. On average 13.2 days sick leave are taken per teacher in the UK. This substantial amount of absenteeism depletes the British economy due to the unprecedented costs on our medical and social support systems."

Repercussions of stress within the profession were wide ranging and varied among the respondents of the Teachers Assurance survey, which was carried out during May in conjunction with research specialist Schoolzone. However, across the 735 teachers surveyed there was an overwhelming consensus that stress had proved detrimental to the lives of teachers. Of those surveyed, a staggering 83% stated that stress meant they had felt constantly tired while 42% felt that they were less able to do their job as a result of their worries. The results also demonstrated the affect that stress levels are having on teachers' personal lives; 40% of those surveyed highlighted that they argued more with partners and friends as a result of the pressures facing them.

Abby Bowman, Head of Brand at Teachers Assurance believes the research findings are indicative of the increased stress levels within the profession. "We know that teachers are extremely busy people who may not always find the time to dedicate to their financial future, and this fact was proven by the 59% of teachers who told us they struggled to find the time to manage their finances. This is where Teachers Assurance can help; we've developed a Financial Education Programme designed specifically for teachers, including free to use online financial calculators, Money Talks in schools and a comprehensive seminar programme across Britain. Our six Financial Calculator tools allow teachers to plan for their financial future, and most take less than five minutes to complete. In taking control of their finances we believe that teachers can alleviate some of the overall stresses they are experiencing and increase their all-round wellbeing."

Ms Morris elaborates: "The experience of stress in the education system can no longer be ignored. It is important to raise awareness of the issue so that both the internal factors and external circumstances contributing towards the experience of stress by teachers can be addressed by both teachers as individuals and by the organisations they work for. The Teachers Assurance study highlights that common factors contributing towards teacher's stress include work place worries and concerns about finances. With regards to finances a great deal of teachers' stress could be alleviated if they had access to financial education and were given guidance with budgeting, savings pensions and protection plans like sickness cover."

Teachers Assurance offers a range of savings, investments, home insurance, health and life cover products for individuals and families that are designed with teachers in mind. To find out more, please visit http://www.teachersassurance.co.uk or if you'd rather chat to someone, call on 0800-056-0563.

Alternatively, why not follow the news on Twitter or Facebook? Simply search for 'Teachers Assurance'.

Notes to Editor

About Teachers Assurance

• Teachers Assurance was set up in 1877 and today offers a range of savings, investments, home insurance products, health and life cover for individuals and families that are designed with teachers in mind
• Teachers Assurance does not offer financial advice. Instead, the company offers a financial education programme for teachers which includes Money Talks in schools and a range of online financial calculator tools
• As a friendly, mutual society, profits are invested to help support customers and future customers or shared with members
• Teachers Assurance was started by what was to become the National Union of Teachers in 1877. Although we are now separate to the Union, we still work in partnership and Teachers Assurance is endorsed by the NUT to provide financial services to members.

Case studies available on request including customers of Teachers Assurance, recipients of Money Talks and seminars as well as users of the Teachers Assurance online Financial Calculators. Case studies are available in full or testimonial format.

Teachers Assurance is a trading name of Teachers Provident Society Limited (TPS), an incorporated Friendly Society No 372F. A member of the Association of British Insurers and the Association of Financial Mutuals. Teachers Provident Society Limited and Teachers Assurance Company Limited No 314801 are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the  Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  Teachers Financial Services Limited No. 3401635 and Sovereign Unit Trust Managers Limited No. 2072297 are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Teachers Management Services Limited No. 3401641 is not a regulated company.

All companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of TPS.  Registered in England and Wales. To help us continually improve customer service, calls may be monitored and recorded. 1335913

About the research

The above research was commissioned by Teachers Assurance and carried out in conjunction with research specialist, Schoolzone in May 2013. The research was conducted by means of an online survey, and was received by 8,329 teachers across Britain. A total of 735 responses were recorded.

A full report of the research findings is available online at http://www.teachersassurance.co.uk/teaching-news. For more information about SchoolZone, please visit http://www.schoolzone.co.uk/clients/schoolzone.asp

About Jayne Morris

Jayne Morris is a stress, clutter and burnout expert, whose one-to-one work, seminars, podcasts, articles and online posts have helped thousands of people around the world regain their sense of power, passion and purpose. Jayne is a sought after speaker, panellist and workshop leader. Her clients include CEO's, celebrities, leaders and luminaries.

Jayne is a resident life coach expert for NHS Online Health Sector and draws on over 20 years martial arts experience and 15 years combined experience in international business, teaching, radio and television presenting.

As a qualified Personal and Business Coach, Jayne is a member of the highly reputed Coaching Circle, National Council of Psychotherapists and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.

Jayne's work has been featured by leading publications including The Telegraph, Daily Express, London Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Fitness, Shortlist, Stylist and Women's Weekly.

For further information and assets:

Laura Bentham, Social Media & PR Executive +44(0)1202-435112
lbentham@teachersassurance.co.uk
http://www.teachersassurance.co.uk/press