The Unseen Costs of Digital Reform: A Physiological Study of Teacher Stress

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Under Pressure: Teacher Stress, Workload, and the Hidden Cost of the Professions

Abstract

This study investigates elementary teachers’ stress during technology-integrated instruction amid South Korea’s digital education reform. Using Heart Rate Variability (HRV), classroom videos, and interviews, it explores the intensity and triggers of stress. HRV data from 12 teachers revealed elevated stress responses during instruction, with individual differences linked to perceived uncertainty and coping efficiency. Thematic analysis of data from classroom videos and interviews identified key stressors in technology-integrated instruction: difficulties in managing instruction, student behavior, and technical instability. The findings emphasize that uncertainty, rather than technology itself, is central to technostress, and highlight the emotional labor involved in adapting to new instructional environments. The study highlights the value of combining physiological data to understand teacher stress in digital settings more comprehensively.

Authors

• Yuna Oh, Seoul National University

• youngsun choo, Seoul National University

• Young Hoan Cho, Seoul National University