Reconstructing the Meaning of Work to Promote Teachers Mental Health

Aims: Teachers often encounter work-related challenges that can compromise their mental health. We used a dual-factor model to evaluate the relationship between the meaning of work and teachers’ mental health. Mental health is defined as a high level of psychological well-being and a low level of psychological distress. Participants Methods: This qualitative study involved a survey completed by 261 elementary school teachers in East Java, Indonesia, and five teacher interviews. Data were collected through documentation, interviews, and a Mental Health Scale, and data analysis was performed through descriptive and thematic analysis. Findings: Many problems of teachers in performing their duties and teachers’ inability to interpret their behavior have caused the level of mental health to decrease. Conclusion: Our results contribute to a better understanding of teacher challenges that can affect overall mental health and provide useful strategies to improve teaching conditions.