Sense of risk of work addiction among teachers

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to analyze the self-awareness of teachers regarding their possible addiction to work and to search for methods of preventing addiction. Material and methods Quantitative research on teachers' awareness of work addiction was conducted among 116 professionally active teachers working in primary and secondary schools in the Masovian Voivodeship. For their needs, a research questionnaire was designed containing twelve statements related to addiction criteria. Results Before these statements on work addiction were presented to respondents, they were asked if they felt that they were currently at risk of work addiction due to their work. The vast majority of respondents, as many as one hundred and three people (89%), answered that they had no such concerns. After familiarizing themselves with the questionnaire and selecting statements that matched their opinions about themselves, they were asked again about their sense of being at risk of addiction. The results differed significantly, because forty-six people gave an affirmative answer, which is almost 40% of the teachers surveyed. Conclusions All changes in the education system, reforms, and the use of ICT in teaching are stressors for teachers. Despite the constant increase in responsibilities related to e.g. remote teaching and the influx of refugees, they are still poorly paid. We should remember that the quality of an education system depends on the quality of its teachers. Therefore, if we want to improve the quality of education in Polish schools, we should first of all take care of the well-being of teachers. Perhaps the dissemination of the phenomenon of work addiction will change its perception, especially among professions burdened with high social expectations.

Keywords

• teachers
• work
• workaholism
• behavioral addictions
• digital learning