Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach

Wettstein, Alexander; Jenni, Gabriel; Schneider, Ida; Kühne, Fabienne; grosse Holtforth, Martin; La Marca, Roberto

doi:10.3390/ijerph20105760

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach

by

Alexander Wettstein

^1,*

,

Gabriel Jenni

¹

,

Ida Schneider

¹

,

Fabienne Kühne

¹,

Martin grosse Holtforth

^2,3

and

Roberto La Marca

^1,4,5

¹

Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

²

Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

³

Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

⁴

Clinica Holistica Engiadina, Centre for Stress-Related Disorders, 7542 Susch, Switzerland

⁵

Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5760; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105760

Submission received: 22 February 2023 / Revised: 28 April 2023 / Accepted: 4 May 2023 / Published: 9 May 2023

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Schools as Contexts for Wellbeing and Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence)

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Abstract

Teacher stress significantly challenges teachers’ health, teaching quality, and students’ motivation and achievement. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that effectively prevent it. Using a LASSO regression approach, we examined which factors predict teachers’ psychological strain and allostatic load over two years. The study included 42 teachers (28 female, Mage = 39.66, SD = 11.99) and three measurement time points: At baseline, we assessed teachers’ (a) self-reports (i.e., on personality, coping styles, and psychological strain), (b) behavioral data (i.e., videotaped lessons), and (c) allostatic load (i.e., body mass index, blood pressure, and hair cortisol concentration). At 1- and 2-year follow-ups, psychological strain and allostatic load biomarkers were reassessed. Neuroticism and perceived student disruptions at baseline emerged as the most significant risk factors regarding teachers’ psychological strain two years later, while a positive core self-evaluation was the most important protective factor. Perceived support from other teachers and the school administration as well as adaptive coping styles were protective factors against allostatic load after two years. The findings suggest that teachers’ psychological strain and allostatic load do not primarily originate from objective classroom conditions but are attributable to teachers’ idiosyncratic perception of this environment through the lens of personality and coping strategies.

Keywords: teacher stress; risk and protective factors; psychological strain; allostatic load; LASSO regression

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wettstein, A.; Jenni, G.; Schneider, I.; Kühne, F.; grosse Holtforth, M.; La Marca, R. Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 5760. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105760

AMA Style

Wettstein A, Jenni G, Schneider I, Kühne F, grosse Holtforth M, La Marca R. Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(10):5760. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105760

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wettstein, Alexander, Gabriel Jenni, Ida Schneider, Fabienne Kühne, Martin grosse Holtforth, and Roberto La Marca. 2023. "Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 10: 5760. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105760

APA Style

Wettstein, A., Jenni, G., Schneider, I., Kühne, F., grosse Holtforth, M., & La Marca, R. (2023). Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10), 5760. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105760

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Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach

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