Introduction: Research concerning work-related stress that has a proven negative impact on health is quickly gaining traction. Preschool teacher and preschool assistant teacher professions are considered difficult and burdensome, as they attend to the physical and mental needs of children. The majority of published research up to now has assessed the influence of work-related stress on elementary school and high school teachers’ health. A research paper concerning the factors for the risk of work-related stress has been published this year. The paper focused on work-related stress in educational staff for the whole of Slovenia. Purpose: The purpose of this master’s thesis is to assess the potential risk factors that the educational staff experience as occupational stress in kindergartens of the Slovenian Styrian (Štajerska) region. Methods: The data on work-related stress and potential risk factors that apply to this research paper has been gained by the means of a questionnaire that was sent out to Styrian kindergartens. A total of 508 preschool and assistant preschool teachers have participated in this cross-sectional study. The demographic data and risk factor data that has influence on experiencing stress in educational staff was acquired through the questionnaire. To evaluate the differences and variety in experiencing work-related stress (psychological demands, decision latitude, and the quality of a supportive working environment i.e. social support) in preschool and assistant preschool teachers, a parametric t-test was used. The results were processed using the SPSS program, version 21. Results: The results of the study have shown statistically typical differences in answers among preschool and assistant preschool teachers as a part of psychological demands (p=0,044), decision latitude (p<0,001) and the combined answers regarding experiencing work-related stress (p=0,019). When assessing the impact the quality of a supportive working environment i.e. social support has on preschool and assistant preschool teachers, no statistically typical differences have been found in the two group’s answers. Discussion and conclusion: It has been ascertained that a correlation exists between work-related stress in educational staff and the psychological demands, the decision latitude, and all the parameters. On the basis of these results, it can be assumed that their assistant counterparts are under more pressure than preschool teachers. Teachers have higher psychological demands and they better manage their decision latitude as assistant teachers. According to the results of all the parameters they are experiencing less stress as assistant teachers. The activities to alleviate stress in educational staff in kindergartens have to be oriented toward the assessment and control of environmental and societal risk factors in educational institutions.
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