Development and Validation of Stress-Related Tool for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Students in the Post Pandemic Era

Abstract

Stress can be helpful and stimulating if mild and well-managed. It stimulates the thinking processes and helps people stay alert and be productive and do their daily tasks. It can also result in personal growth and facilitate development. However, how people react to stress depends on how they view and evaluate the impact of the stressor, its effect on their situation and support at the time of the stress, and their usual coping mechanisms. According to Yazdani (2010), stress is a multidimensional phenomenon which is focused on dynamic between individual and environment and because of the magnitude of stress to students, it is vital and timely to understand how this phenomenon can affect our aspiring teachers. The development of the stress-related tool was anchored on a relevant framework that indicated internal and external stressors and validation of this tool using a quantitative correlational design was applied. Findings of this study have revealed that students of Professional Continuing Education (CPE) experience a higher stress level to both internal and external factors and that there is a significant relationship between stress and sex, civil status and monthly family income. Recommendations focus on the development of stress management and empowerment program that will ensure their holistic well-being despite the challenges of the dynamic trends of the current educational landscape.