Perceptions of stress among university teachers

Abstract

This descriptive work aimed to analyze the perceptions on stress among university teachers and their coping strategies. The study was developed at the ‘Universidade Federal de Goiás’ (Goias Public University). The data collection was performed though interviews recorded on tape. The BOGDAN & BIKLEN (1994) model was used for the analysis. Seventy one teachers participated. Four categories were identified: the teachers perceive Stress Indicators, such as body aches, somnolence, palpitation. Among the Stress Causes, they discern demands, multiple jobs, lack of money, multiple responsibilities, and problems in general. In this context, illnesses caused by stress have already been reported. The teachers mentioned “Ways of dealing with stress” that aim to reduce it through escape strategies, direct and indirect confront. It was concluded that the teachers perceive stress as a state of the body resulting from the process of confronting adverse situations, with expressions of bio-psychosocial nature and adverse consequences to the health, and that stress may be reduced through some strategies.