Role of Postive Psychological Constructs in Mental Health of School Teachers

This study was conducted with an aim to assess the role of positive psychological constructs namely self efficacy, hope, resilience, optimism, personal growth initiative, life satisfaction in determining the mental health of school teachers. Sample comprised of 200 school teachers with mean age 36.43 years. Using the multistage sampling technique the data were drawn from fourteen private/government schools located in Poonch and Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir). To measure the positive psychological constructs, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Personal Growth Initiative Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale were administered. Mental health was measured using General Health Questionnaire. Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression using enter method was applied for the statistical analysis. The data were treated at both 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance. A significant and negative correlation was found between the positive psychological constructs and mental health. It reveals the reduction in emotional distress in the teachers with an increase in level of various positive psychological constructs. There has been significant contribution of hope and personal growth initiative in enhancing the mental health of the teachers. Findings are indicative of better mental health in the teachers high on positive psychological constructs. Mental health is related with the optimal functioning at the workplace. Implications for development of positive psychological constructs within the context of school teacher populations have been discussed.