Research Alert / The Link Between Teacher and Student Well-Being

The researchers found several factors that might contribute to this link. One was the student-teacher relationship: Higher-quality teacher-student relationships were associated with happier students and vice versa. It seems that teachers with well-being issues may find it harder to develop supportive relationships, which may lessen the impact of their connections with students.

While high teacher absence rates were also a factor impacting student well-being, a greater influence might be the rising issue of teacher "presenteeism"—when employees show up to work even though they are not feeling well physically or mentally. Teachers who come to school when their physical or mental health is suffering may "be less able to engage in positive classroom and behaviour management or be more likely to display negative emotions or behaviours," the researchers noted.

These links suggest that focusing on improving teacher well-being and encouraging teachers to take breaks and take time off when they need it can not only have a positive effect on the teachers, but also help improve student's physical and mental health as well. A win-win.

—Tara Laskowski

Source: Harding, S., Morris, R., Gunnell, D., Ford, T., Hollingworth, W., Tilling, K., et al. (2019). Is teachers' mental health and wellbeing associated with students' mental health and wellbeing? Journal of Affective Disorders, 180–187.