This is Depressing: The Emotional Labor of Teaching During the Pandemic Spring 2020

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected teachers and students worldwide. In March 2020, more than 5,000 teachers reported feeling overwhelmed, sad, fearful, anxious, and worried. We evaluated those feelings through the lens of emotional labor using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Results indicated that professors were experiencing signs of emotional exhaustion as the result of surface acting—the disconnect they felt between trying to reassure and support students when they themselves felt sad and anxious. Results supported findings from several student and teacher surveys regarding stress and COVID-19. It also supported prior research that found gender differences in extent of emotional labor.