Mental Health of Working Women Teachers in Government and Private Colleges

Authors: B. Durai Raj, Dr. M. Suganthi

Pages: 16-20

Abstract:

This study examined the mental health of working women teachers employed in government and private colleges in the Puducherry region. A total of 462 women teachers, comprising 106 from government colleges and 356 from private colleges, were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using the Women Teachers Mental Health Scale (WTMHS), developed by the investigator, consisting of 24 items across six dimensions: emotional well-being, anxiety and stress symptoms, self-esteem and confidence, resilience and coping skills, social support and relationships, and work-life balance and fulfilment. The scale showed split-half and test-retest reliability coefficients of 0.70 and 0.65, respectively. The collected data were analysed using the t-test. The findings indicated no significant difference in overall mental health between women teachers working in government and private colleges, with mean scores of 79.35 and 80.56, respectively. The study concludes that institutional type does not significantly influence mental health and emphasizes the need for counselling, mental health programmes, and work-life balance initiatives.