The Effect of School Teacher Job Stress on Work-Family Positive Spillover Among Married Elementary Teachers in the Schools Division of Dapitan City

AUTHOR(S)

MA. TERESA C. BRIONES

ABSTRACT

—— This study investigated the complex relationship between school teacher job stress and work-family positive spillover (WFPS) among married elementary teachers (Teacher I, II, and III) in the Dapitan Central Schools District, Schools Division of Dapitan City, Philippines. Utilizing a descriptive research design and a structured survey questionnaire, which included an adapted Fimian’s Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) and a validated work-family positive spillover scale, the research aimed to understand how specific job stressors influences the transfer of positive experiences from work to family life. The key findings revealed a dual effect of stress: while Professional Distress consistently acted as a powerful negative predictor across all four domains of WFPS, Personal/Professional Stressors surprisingly showed a significant positive predictive relationship with WFPS. This suggests that successfully managing heavy workloads and complex administrative duties can paradoxically generate a sense of accomplishment and improved skills that enrich family life, whereas deep-seated dissatisfaction and feelings of worthlessness associated with professional distress severely erode a teacher’s capacity for positive family interactions. The study concludes that enriching the work-family interface requires not just merely reducing all demands, but aggressively mitigating professional distress while equipping teachers with resources to effectively master job complexity. These findings offer culturally relevant insights for targeted interventions among Filipino elementary teachers, providing a foundation for school administrators and policymakers to foster supportive work environments, enhance coping strategies, and promote professional development to improve teacher well-being and work-life integration. Keywords: Teacher Job Stress, Work-Family Positive Spillover, Elementary Teachers, Professional Distress, Personal/Professional Stressors, Affective Spillover, Skills Spillover, Behavioral Spillover, Value-Based Spillover