ROLE OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN MITIGATING OCCUPATIONAL STRESS OF MATHEMATICS TEACHERS OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KERALA

Teaching mathematics is a highly demanding task, particularly in today’s competitive educational environment.
Mathematics teachers face numerous challenges, especially in higher secondary schools in Kerala, which can
lead to significant stress; the stress experienced by teachers, in turn, affects their mental health and overall wellbeing, ultimately leading to poor student performance. This study examines the role of social integration in
mitigating occupational stress among mathematics teachers. A random sample of 180 mathematics teachers
from higher secondary schools in the Kollam district of Kerala was surveyed. Research tools, including the
Teacher’s Occupational Stress Scale (Sharma & Kaur, 2014) and a Social Integration Scale developed by the
investigators, were used to collect data. The correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship
between social integration and occupational stress. These findings suggest that fostering social integration can
help alleviate stress among mathematics teachers. The study concludes with implications for reducing teacher
stress in the educational system.