Teacher stress factors and performance in high schools in Ecuador.

The government of Ecuador has invested heavily in education in recent years, and this has affected the socio-educational context and professional role of teachers in that country. This study aims to determine the main factors that can cause stress among teaching professionals in Ecuador, by means of a quantitative methodology, and factor and regression analyses. The results show that the main stress factors affecting teachers relate to poor working conditions (20.3%), a negative professional environment (13.7%), excessive workload (12.5%), assaults and lack of appreciation (9.4%), and performance assessment (3.9%). Thus, the determination of the main stress factors in a specific socio-educational context contributes to the international understanding of the socio-professional profile of the teacher and could favour the measures to minimize teachers' stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]