title: Expelling Stress for Primary School Teachers: Self-Affirmation Increases Positive Emotions in Teaching and Emotion Reappraisal.
abstract: The aim of the present pilot study was to assess the effect of a brief work-related self-affirming implementation intention (WS-AII) on the well-being of primary school teachers. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: one in which they were asked to create a WS-AII or one in which they were asked to create a control implementation intention (C-II). State anxiety was measured pre- and post-manipulation, self-efficacy at post-manipulation only, and emotions in teaching and emotion regulation at baseline and at a two-week follow-up. There were statistically significant differences between the WS-AII condition and the control. Teachers who created work-related self-affirming implementation intentions reported an immediate reduction in state anxiety. Positive effects extended over the two-week period, with teachers in the WS-AII condition also reporting more positive emotions in teaching and the use of reappraisal emotion regulation strategies rather than emotion suppression. Results suggest that the integration of the WS-AII into existing organisational practice may be of benefit to the well-being of teachers and other highly stressed workers.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Group, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK. jim.morgan@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Psychology Group, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK. lisaatkin@hotmail.co.uk.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000070777:School Teachers / Q000523:psychology*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; coping; emotion regulation; emotions in teaching; self-affirmation; stress; teaching; well-being