Mental Health of Teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemics.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of COVID-19 has affected all spheres of life, including education. Teachers at all levels were faced with numerous challenges during the pandemic. These challenges had an impact on their mental health. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to examine the depression, anxiety, and stress levels in teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS: The sample for this study consisted of 559 teachers (471 female teachers and 88 male teachers). We used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21) to measure teachers' emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. RESULTS: The findings of this study clearly indicate the high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in teachers. We also identified that levels of support provided by family members and school administration served as protective factors in the time of crisis. CONCLUSION: Teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a high prevalence of elevated depression, anxiety, and stress levels. The article concludes with some recommendations on how to improve the mental health of teachers.