Chapter 6: Teacher Stress and Classroom Structural Characteristics in Elementary Settings

The Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands (CARD) was used to explore stress among elementary teachers (n = 276). The sample data yielded reliable difference scores, which measured the gap between a teacher’s appraisal of both classroom demands and the resources available to meet those demands. These scores were used to classify teachers according to levels of perceived stress and were examined for associations with classroom structural characteristics. Teacher stress was associated with the number of children with problem behaviors and learning disabilities in the classroom, but not to other teacher background and classroom structural characteristics.