Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Improving Mental Well-being among Educators in Malaysia through Identifying Psychosocial Risk Factors

Wan Noor Izzati, Noor Aina Amirah, Yusnita Yusof

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i7/26010

Open access

Teaching is a challenging profession that requires educators to contend with high workloads, limited job control, and insufficient social support, exacerbating psychosocial risks among them. Thus, understanding psychosocial risk factors is crucial to avoid negative consequences for educators and students. There is a growing concern about the mental well-being of educators in Malaysia and the need to understand psychosocial risk factors among educators in Malaysia. The PERMA and Biopsychosocial models were discussed to understand mental well-being and the associated psychosocial risk factors with mental well-being. The literature discussed four psychosocial risk factors: environment and equipment, workload, work pace and work schedule, work-life balance, and social support. In conclusion, promoting mental well-being among educators requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the ten psychosocial risk factors. Hence, by addressing these factors, organizations can improve the mental well-being of their employees, reduce stress and burnout, and improve overall productivity and performance.

Agyapong, B., Obuobi-Donkor, G., Burback, L., & Wei, Y. (2022). Stress, Burnout, Anxiety and Depression among Teachers: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710706
Al-sabbah, S., Darwish, A., Fares, N., Barnes, J., & Ali, J. (2021). Biopsychosocial factors linked with over all well-being of students and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cogent Psychology, 8(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2021.1875550
Allen, T. D., Cunningham, C. J. L., Fisher, G. G., Hammer, L., McHenry, J., Metzler, J., Oswald, F., Stolle, D. P., & Warner, R. (2022). 5 ways to improve employee mental health. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/improve-employee-mental-health
Barile, N., Teacher, A., & Ed, M. A. (2022). How to Achieve Work-Life Balance As a Teacher. https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/how-achieve-work-life-balance-teacher1807.html
Crinson, D. I. (2017). Concepts of health. Wellbeing and Illness, and the Aetiology of Illness. https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/medical-sociology-policy-economics/4a-concepts-health-illness
Foundation, M. H. (2021). Work - life balance. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/work-life-balance
Gragnano, A., Simbula, S., & Miglioretti, M. (2020). Work – Life Balance?: Weighing the Importance of Work – Family and Work – Health Balance. MDPI, 17(2), 9–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030907
Gymnasio, P., Marronniers, E., Municipality, C., Public, V. G., & Municipality, S. (n.d.). Improving well-being at school (Vol. 33). https://www.coe.int/en/web/campaign-free-to-speak-safe-to-learn/improving-well-being-at-school
Gymnasio, P., Marronniers, E., Municipality, C., Public, V. G., & Municipality, S. (2023). Improving well-being at school. Democratic Schools for All. https://www.coe.int/en/web/campaign-free-to-speak-safe-to-learn/improving-well-being-at-school
Health, M. (2023). About Mental Health. Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017.6.
Hernández-torrano, D., Ibrayeva, L., Sparks, J., Lim, N., Clementi, A., Almukhambetova, A., Nurtayev, Y., Muratkyzy, A., & Hernández-torrano, D. (2020). Mental Health and Well-Being of University Students?: A Bibliometric Mapping of the Literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(June), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01226
Ibrahim, R. Z. A. R., Zalam, W. Z. M., Foster, B., Afrizal, T., Johansyah, M. D., Saputra, J., Bakar, A. A., Dagang, M. M., & Ali, S. N. M. (2021). Psychosocial Work Environment and Teachers’ Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Job Control and Social Support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147308
Keenan. (2023). Mental Health in the Workplace: Priotizing Well-being for Productivity and Success. Keenan. https://www.keenan.com/Knowledge-Center/Blog/Details/mental-health-in-the-workplace-prioritizing-well-being-for-productivity-and-success#:~:text=Conduct regular mental health assessments,%2C productivity%2C and job satisfaction.
Kern, M. L., Waters, L. E., Adler, A., & White, M. A. (2015). A multidimensional approach to measuring well-being in students?: Application of the PERMA framework. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.936962
Kotera, Y., Ting, S.-H., & Neary, S. (2021). Mental health of Malaysian university students?: UK comparison , and relationship between negative mental health attitudes , self-compassion , and resilience. Springer, 81, 403–419.
Kovich, M. K., Simpson, V. L., Foli, K. J., Hass, Z., & Phillips, R. G. (2023). Application of the PERMA Model of Well ? being in Undergraduate Students. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 6(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-022-00184-4
Li, S., Sheng, Y., Jing, Y., Carla, R., & Silva, G. (2022). How Social Support Impact Teachers ’ Mental Health Literacy?: A Chain Mediation Model. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(3), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.851332
Megan. (2021). Three Aspects of Health and Healing: The Biopsychosial Model in Medicine. 10, 1–6. https://surgery.wustl.edu/three-aspects-of-health-and-healing-the-biopsychosocial-model/
MTCT. (2023). The PERMA Model. Bringing Well-Being and Happiness to Your Life. https://www.mindtools.com/as97w8i/the-perma-model
Mukrimaa, S. S., Nurdyansyah, Fahyuni, E. F., YULIA CITRA, A., Schulz, N. D., ????, ?., Taniredja, T., Faridli, E. M., & Harmianto, S. (2016). Health Impact of Psychosocial Hazards at Work: An Overview. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, 6(August), 128.
Nieuwenhuijzan, M. E. A. van. (2019). The realtionship between workload and burnout in education: The moderating role of teacher -pupil interaction (Issue May) [Tilburg University]. http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=148504
Pace, F., Urso, G. D., Zappulla, C., & Pace, U. (2021). The relation between workload and personal well-being among university professors. Research Gate, 10(7), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00294-x
PERMA. (2023). PERMA Model of Happiness: What Is the PERMA Model?? https://practicalpie.com/perma-model-of-happiness/
Psychological, P. (2020). The Biopsychosocial Model of Well-Being. https://positivelypsychological.com/2020/09/21/the-biopsychosocial-model-of-well-being/
Raaj, S., Navanathan, S., Tharmaselan, M., & Lally, J. (2021). Mental disorders in Malaysia?: an increase in lifetime prevalence. BJPSYCH INTERNATIONAL, 18(4), 97–99. https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2021.4
Sahril, N., Ahmad, N. A., Idris, I. B., Sooryanarayana, R., & Aznuddin, A. R. M. (2021). Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems among Malaysian Children: A Large Population-Based Study. MDPI, 119(8), 1–12.
Smith, B. M., Robinson, L., Segal, J., & Ph, D. (2023). Building Better Mental Health. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/building-better-mental-health.htm
Supporting Child and Student Social , Emotional , Behavioral , and Mental Health Needs. (2021). https://www2.ed.gov/documents/students/supporting-child-student-social-emotional-behavioral-mental-health.pdf
Sutherland, P. L. (2018). THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS [CSUSB ScholarWorks]. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/660/?utm_source=scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu%2Fetd%2F660&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
Tai, K. L., Ng, Y. G., & Lim, P. Y. (2019). Systematic review on the prevalence of illness and stress and their associated risk factors among educators in Malaysia. PLoS ONE, 14(5), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217430
What is the Biopsychosocial Model? - Definition & Example. (2016). Study.Com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-biopsychosocial-model-definition-example.html.
World Health Organization. (2022). Mental health at work. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int//news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwx5qoBhDyARIsAPbMagCd4aw3g09CRCDWsaE_wbnAWw0ZoO0PrBiNT8CSBxqYVqf-9sL58pIaAp2WEALw_wcB
Writers, S. (2021, October). How to Maintain Work-Life-School Balance. Best Colleges, 10, 1–7. https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/work-life-school-balance/
Zhenjing, G., Chupradit, S., Ku, K. Y., Nassani, A. A., & Haffar, M. (2022). Impact of Employees ’ Workplace Environment on Employees ’ Performance?: A Multi-Mediation Model. Frontiers in Public Health, 10(5), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.890400

Izzati, W. N., Amirah, N. A., & Yusof, Y. (2025). Improving Mental Well-being among Educators in Malaysia through Identifying Psychosocial Risk Factors. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(7), 899-911.