ERIC Number: EJ1436128
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1968-2065
Influences on General Music Teachers' Mental Health during the Collective Trauma of COVID-19
Abigail Van Klompenberg
Visions of Research in Music Education, v44 Article 5 p60-74 2023
The purpose of this collective case study was to examine elementary music teachers' mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research questions were: 1) What factors influenced music teachers' mental health and well-being during COVID-19; 2) How did music teachers support their own mental health and well-being during COVID-19?; 3) How might stakeholders (such as schools, administrators, and community members) better support educators during challenging times? Data included semi-structured interviews, informal observations, and a researcher journal. Participants were three elementary music educators teaching K-5 music in geographically and demographically diverse public schools throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Through "data transformation" (Glesne, 2006), I explored the essence of the teacher's experiences as they described their mental health and well-being during the pandemic. Five themes related to mental health and well-being emerged: (1) connection, (2) support, (3) anxiety, (4) self-care, and (5) resiliency. Findings from this study revealed the negative effects of the pandemic, particularly on educators' levels of anxiety. Also, findings revealed the influence of self-care and support which contributed to the educators' resiliency during the pandemic. Implications for music educators, music teacher educators, and other stakeholders are discussed within the context of this study.
Descriptors: Music Teachers, Mental Health, Trauma, COVID-19, Pandemics, Well Being, Elementary School Teachers, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Public Schools, Teaching Experience, Educational Change, Teacher Attitudes, Institutional Characteristics, Geographic Location, Diversity, Demography, Stakeholders
Visions of Research in Music Education. University of Connecticut, 249 Glenbrook Road, Unit 3033, Storrs, CT 06269. e-mail: vrmejournaleditors@gmail.com; Web site: https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/vrme/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas; South Carolina; California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A