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Back to School: Italian Teachers’ Perceptions of the Impact of COVID-19 on Personal and Social Well-Being and Teaching Methods

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  • Annamaria Porru

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Raffaele Dicataldo

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Irene Leo

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Maja Roch

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Daniela Lucangeli

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, continuous closing and reopening of schools may have had an impact on teachers’ perception of the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and of the effectiveness of health measures introduced to limit the spread of the virus, with consequences on teaching methods and relational bonds within schools. By means of an online survey, we measured: teachers’ stress, job-satisfaction, self-efficacy and emotions at work, risk-perception of contracting SARS-CoV-2, perception of effectiveness of health measures, teaching methods and social relationships. Participants were 2446 teachers (2142 women and 304 men) all engaged in the four educational stages. Most of the respondents were aged 50 or older (45%), followed by a group aged 41–50 (31%) and by a group aged <40 (24%). We used path analysis to test the impact that COVID-19 had, according to teachers, on teaching methods (Model 1) and social relationships (Model 2). In both models, teachers’ stress was positively directly associated with risk-perception of contracting SARS-CoV-2 (Model 1: β = 0.10; p < 0.001; Model 2: β = 0.09; p < 0.001). Additionally, we found an indirect path between teachers’ stress and risk-perception of contracting SARS-CoV-2 on the one hand, and perception of effectiveness of health measures on the other hand (Model 1: β = 0.02; p < 0.001; Model 2: β = 0.02; p < 0.001). These results suggest that, in emergencies, risk perception level, emotional regulation, and teachers’ stress levels were all key factors affecting teaching methods and relationship quality in schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Annamaria Porru & Raffaele Dicataldo & Irene Leo & Maja Roch & Daniela Lucangeli, 2022. "Back to School: Italian Teachers’ Perceptions of the Impact of COVID-19 on Personal and Social Well-Being and Teaching Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-20, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11652-:d:915861
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefanie Weinert & Anja Thronicke & Maximilian Hinse & Friedemann Schad & Harald Matthes, 2021. "School Teachers’ Self-Reported Fear and Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Patricia Solís García & Rocío Lago Urbano & Sara Real Castelao, 2021. "Consequences of COVID-19 Confinement for Teachers: Family-Work Interactions, Technostress, and Perceived Organizational Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.
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    4. Nahia Idoiaga Mondragon & Naiara Berasategi Sancho & Maria Dosil Santamaria & Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria, 2021. "Reopening of Schools in the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Quality of Life of Teachers While Coping with This New Challenge in the North of Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    5. Per Engzell & Arun Frey & Mark D. Verhagen, 2021. "Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(17), pages 2022376118-, April.
    6. Anastasia Petrakova & Tatjana Kanonire & Alena Kulikova & Ekaterina Orel, 2021. "Characteristics of Teacher Stress during Distance Learning Imposed by the COVID‑19 Pandemic," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 93-114.
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    1. Vincenza Capone & Mohsen Joshanloo & Miriam Sang-Ah Park, 2022. "Job Satisfaction Mediates the Relationship between Psychosocial and Organization Factors and Mental Well-Being in Schoolteachers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.

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