"Getting support from a teacher means students feel that the teacher wants them to do well and succeed."
This is what Erik Grasaas at the University of Agder (UiA) says. He is one of the researchers behind a recent study that looks at how young people perceive support from their teachers. They utilised data from the Ungdata survey, in which 139,000 Norwegian adolescents participated.
"Teachers impact how young people feel not just at school, but also in their lives outside of school. This is true for both boys and girls, no matter their socio-economic background," says Grasaas.
Large gender differences
Ways teachers can show support
- Greet each student daily with a handshake and a smile 😊
- Make sure students know you want them to succeed.
- Aim to see or talk to everyone in the class during your class or day. A smile or a nod might be enough.
- Be patient and show self-control. You are an important role model for the students.
- Show empathy and accept that young people are and think differently from adults.
- Take the time to talk and listen. Good relationships are very important.
- Respond when they ask. Remember, as a teacher, you greatly influence how they feel at school and in their free time.
Teacher support functions as a buffer against stress, especially for girls.
According to the study, girls report significantly higher stress than boys. In secondary school, 38 per cent of girls say they often feel stressed about schoolwork, compared to 17 per cent of boys. The difference remains pronounced in upper secondary school.
"Teacher support reduces stress levels for both genders, but the change is particularly noticeable among girls," says Grasaas.
Among secondary school girls who do not receive support from their teachers, 60 per cent often feel stressed. Among those who receive support, only 33 per cent feel the same way.
A buffer against low quality of life
Besides reducing stress, teacher support shields young people from the negative effects stress can have on their overall quality of life. This impact is particularly noticeable in lower secondary school.
"When students feel that teachers care about them, the school environment becomes safer both academically and personally. This boosts student wellbeing and improves their overall experience," says Gunn Bjørnsen, Dean of the Teacher Education Unit at UiA and co-author of the study.
She believes the study is particularly significant given that two out of ten students drop out of upper secondary school.
Time and resources for relationship building
The connection between teacher support and student quality of life is strong, slightly more so in lower secondary than in upper secondary school.
Grasaas explains that because adolescence is a time of many changes, younger and older students might perceive teacher support differently.
"We see how crucial good teachers are for young people. And I think it's also reassuring for teachers to have confirmation of how important their relationships with students are," he says.
Nevertheless, he and Bjørnsen are concerned about the pressures on the teaching profession. They believe it is important to give teachers the time and resources to care for the students.
"We want teachers to have time to do their jobs, to create a classroom culture where students thrive and form good relationships. Because this affects not just academic performance, but also how students feel at home," says Bjørnsen.