• home
  • store

ASCD Logo

  • ASCD.org
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Virtual Events
  • Navigate Applications
    • ASCD Activate
    • myTeachSource
    • PD In Focus
    • PD Online
    • Streaming Video
  • Help

    ASCD Customer Service

    Phone
    Monday through Friday
    8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

    1-800-933-ASCD (2723)

    Address
    1703 North Beauregard St.
    Alexandria, VA 22311-1714

    Complete Customer Service Details

  • Log In
ASCD Header Logo
Click to Search
  • Popular Topics
    • Building Racial Justice and Equity
    • Curriculum Design and Lesson Planning
    • Differentiated Instruction
    • Distance Learning
    • Instructional Leadership
    • School Climate and Culture
    • Social-Emotional Learning
    • Understanding by Design
    • Browse All Topics
  • Books & More
    • Browse Books
    • New Books
    • Member Books
    • Quick Reference Guides
    • ASCD Express
    • Newsletters
    • Write for ASCD
    • ASCD Books in Translation
    • White Papers
    • Streaming Videos
    • PD Online Courses
    • PD In Focus
  • Educational Leadership
    • Current Issue
    • Browse EL Archives
    • Digital EL
    • EL Podcast
    • Upcoming Themes
    • Write for EL
    • EL's Tell Us About
  • Membership
    • Benefits
    • Team Memberships
    • Member-Only Webinars
    • Affiliates & More
  • Virtual Events
    • Webinars
    • Symposiums
    • Leadership Summit
    • PreK and K Conference
    • Annual Conference
    • Exhibit with Us
  • Professional Learning
    • On-Site & Virtual PD
    • ASCD Faculty
    • ASCD Staff Speakers
    • ASCD Activate
    • ASCD Regional Partners
    • PD Success Stories
    • PD Request Form
  • Main
  • Current Issue
  • Archives
  • Upcoming Themes
  • Write for EL
  • Contact
  • Buy
  • Subscribe
Buy this issue
 Share |
You must be an ASCD member or subscriber to view this content.

To view this article,
  • Log in.
  • Become an ASCD member.
  • Read Abstract

December 2020/January 2021 | Volume 78 | Number 4
Mental Health for Educators Pages 10-10

Issue Table of Contents | Read Article Abstract

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

Turns out that if teachers aren't feeling so well, their students are negatively affected, too. A recent U.K. study found a link between teacher depression and student well-being and psychological difficulties.

The study, which surveyed more than 3,000 students ages 12–13 and more than 1,100 teachers, indicated that better teacher well-being is associated with better student well-being and with lower student psychological difficulties.

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.

Copyright © 2020 by ASCD

Requesting Permission

  • For photocopy, electronic and online access, and republication requests, go to the Copyright Clearance Center. Enter the periodical title within the "Get Permission" search field.
  • To translate this article, contact permissions@ascd.org
ASCD Express

Ideas from the Field

Subscribe to ASCD Express, our free email newsletter, to have practical, actionable strategies and information delivered to your email inbox twice a month.

Subscribe Now

Vote in ASCD's General Membership Election, open April 1-May 15, 2021.Special Announcement

ASCD's 2021 General Membership Election is open April 1–May 15.

Vote now

Meet the candidates

Permissions

ASCD respects intellectual property rights and adheres to the laws governing them. Learn more about our permissions policy and submit your request online.

  • Policies and Requests
  • Electronic File Requests for Students with Print Disabilities
  • Translations Rights
  • Books in Translation

  • ASCD on Facebook (External Link)
  • ASCD on Twitter (External Link)
  • ASCD on Pinterest (External Link)
  • ASCD on Instagram (External Link)
  • ASCD on LinkedIn (External Link)
  • ASCD on Youtube (External Link)

About ASCD

  • About Us
  • Contact Us / Help
  • Governance
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • News & Media
  • Government Relations
  • Whole Child

Get Involved

  • Membership
  • Educator Advocates
  • Affiliates
  • Emerging Leaders
  • Connected Communities
  • Student Chapters
  • Professional Interest Communities

Partner with Us

  • Partners
  • ASCD Job Ramp
  • Advertisers
  • Sponsors & Exhibitors
  • Distributors
ASCD Logo

1703 North Beauregard St.
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714

MISSION: ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

© 2021 ASCD. All Rights Reserved.