Dr Chris Kyriacou University of York Conceptualising teacher resilience in relation to stress
Defining teacher resilience Maintaining positive attributes in the face of challenges, pressures and demands (c.f. notion of ‘teacher stress’ – the experience of negative emotions in the face of challenges, pressures and demands one may be unable to meet)
Positive attributes ● Attitudes towards the work ● Attitudes towards those with whom one interacts ● Job satisfaction, motivation and commitment ● Job performance
The teacher resilience continuum ● A continuum from positive to negative attributes ● Negative attributes resemble teacher burnout (a state of physical, emotional and attitudinal exhaustion) ● Notions of ‘maintaining position’ and ‘bouncing back’
Teacher resilience across career phases: early career Career Phase Challenges Resilience Early career Workload Developing Discipline competence Finance
Teacher resilience across career phases: mid career Career Phase Challenges Resilience Mid career Renewal Expertise Promotion Rejuvenation Responsibilities Change Routine
Teacher resilience across career phases: late career Career Phase Challenges Resilience Late career Energy Comfort Managing others Challenge Accountability Obsolesence
Enhancing teacher resilience ● Building up skills ● Changing work practices ● Avoiding areas of vulnerability ● Taking advice ● Making use of social support ● Adopting positive mental strategies ● Having out of school interests
Other factors ● Personaility (including self-efficacy beliefs) ● Consequences ● Options