What is it about?
This study examines occupational stress, psychological strain, and coping resources among North American teachers working in Kuwait. It compares locally hired teachers (permanent residents) with expatriate teachers (on limited contracts), and explores whether stress levels differ by gender, marital status, age, or years of experience. Using the Occupational Stress Inventory–Revised (OSI-R), the study assesses work-role stressors (e.g., role overload and role insufficiency), personal strain (psychological, interpersonal, and physical), and coping resources (recreation, self-care, social support, and cognitive coping). The results show that while overall stress levels were similar across many demographic groups, locally hired teachers reported higher role insufficiency and interpersonal strain than expatriates, alongside differences in coping patterns.
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Why is it important?
Early expatriate research: One of the first empirical studies comparing expatriate and local teachers within the same host country. Cross-cultural occupational health: Highlights how employment status and context—not just individual traits—shape stress experiences. Practical relevance for schools: Identifies specific stressors and coping resources that can inform teacher support and well-being programs. Broader implications: Contributes to understanding stress and adjustment in international and multicultural work environments.
Perspectives
My motivation for this study was to understand occupational stress as a context-embedded experience, particularly for professionals working outside their home countries. Teaching abroad is often seen as an opportunity, yet it carries unique psychological demands. By comparing expatriate and locally hired teachers, this research emphasizes that stress is shaped not only by the job itself but also by contractual status, social support, and available coping options. I view this work as part of a broader effort to integrate cultural and organizational perspectives into occupational health psychology.
Prof. Othman H Alkhadher
Kuwait University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessing Occupational Stress, Strain, and Coping for North American Teachers in Kuwait, Psychological Reports, December 2006, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.2466/pr0.99.3.681-690.
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