Problematic Internet use (PIU) is a risk factor for psychological distress during COVID-19, as teachers are a psychologically vulnerable population. We explored the role of PIU in terms of primary and middle school teachers’ fear of COVID-19 and psychological need thwarting (PNT) of online teaching. We empirically evaluated the relationships among these research variables in explaining teachers’ psychological distress during COVID-19. Online survey data were collected from 9,030 teachers. A high proportion of participants demonstrated psychological distress: depression (20.4%), anxiety (26.4%), and stress (10.2%). Structural equation modeling was used to test our proposed conceptual model, wherein PIU behaviors served as predictors, mediated by fear of COVID-19 and PNT of online teaching, for teachers’ psychological distress. With ideal model fit, the results of the path coefficients indicated that PIU behaviors were associated with fear of COVID-19 (p < 0.001); fear of COVID-19 and PNT of online teaching were associated with psychological distress (p < 0.001); and fear of COVID-19 was also positively associated with PNT of online teaching (p < 0.001). PSU and PSMU had an indirect positive effect on psychological distress through the mediator of fear of COVID-19 and PNT of online teaching. As such, we suggest that school administrators pay greater attention to teachers’ psychological needs through efforts to enhance teachers’ autonomy and relatedness from interpersonal relationships, alleviating PNT of online teaching. Our PNT of online teaching scale may also serve as a contribution for further research and practice.

Background Teachers in high-stress roles face increasing psychological distress such as anxiety and depression, underscoring the need for validated assessment instruments. Given the current absence of a comprehensive, designated, and time-efficient scale capable of evaluating depression, anxiety, and stress among the teacher population, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) presents itself as a promising alternative. Despite the widespread application of the DASS-21 for assessing psychological distress across various populations, its validity among teachers, along with questions about its factor structure and its potential property of time equivalence, remain unverified. This study endeavors to address these considerations by investigating the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 specifically within the population of Chinese primary and middle school teachers. Methods Cross-sectional (n = 9,030) and longitudinal surveys (n = 1,642) were conducted using a non-probability sampling method. In addition to the DASS-21, the Chinese version of Chinese Teachers’ Job Burnout Questionnaire (CTJBO) was utilized to evaluate the criterion validity of this scale. Three different approaches, namely confirmatory factor analysis, Rasch analysis, and network analysis, were employed to evaluate internal reliability, construct validity, as well as time invariance of the DASS-21. Results The DASS-21 demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.85) as well as excellent convergent validity, despite poor discriminant validity as determined by average variance extracted. Confirmatory factor analysis and network analysis further supported convergent validity. The three-factor structure outperformed one- and two-factor alternatives, establishing time invariance. Rasch analysis at the item level identified six inappropriate items within the anxiety and stress subscales, which were subsequently removed. Network analysis presented a better revised network. Regression analysis with emotional exhaustion as the criterion provided logical and accurate results. Conclusion The DASS-21 was found to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring the mental health of teachers over time. To assess the instrument’s psychometric properties, a combination of confirmatory factor analysis, Rasch analysis, and network analysis was utilized, which proved effective and is recommended for evaluating contentious instruments. Based on the results of the study, researchers and healthcare professionals are recommended to use the DASS-21 for assessing teachers’ psychological distress. However, certain items identified in the study may need to be removed to enhance the instrument’s appropriateness for this specific population.

Recent studies on the effects of mandatory online teaching, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, have widely reported low levels of satisfaction, unwillingness to continue online teaching, and negative impacts on the psychological well-being of teachers. Emerging research has highlighted the potential role of psychological need thwarting (PNT), in terms of autonomy, competence, and relatedness thwarting, resulting from online teaching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and delayed (longitudinal) effects of PNT of online teaching on teachers’ well-being (including distress and burnout), intention to continue online teaching, and job satisfaction. Moreover, data collected from both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys allowed for a systematic validation of an important instrument in the field of teacher psychology, the Psychological Need Thwarting Scale of Online Teaching (PNTSOT), in terms of longitudinal reliability and validity. The data reveal the usefulness of the construct of PNT in terms predicting and explaining teachers’ willingness to continue using online teaching as well as the degree of burnout after a period of 2 months, such that PNT is positively associated with burnout and negatively associated with willingness to continue online teaching. As such, the PNTSOT is recommended for future research evaluating the long-term psychological, affective, and intentional outcomes stemming from teachers’ PNT. Moreover, based on our findings that the impact from PNT of online teaching is persistent and long-term, we suggest that school leaders provide flexible and sustained professional development, model respectful and adaptive leadership, and create opportunities for mastery for the development of community of practice that can mitigate the thwarting of teachers’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness during times of uncertainty. Additionally, in terms of the psychometric properties of the PNTSOT instrument, our empirical findings demonstrate internal reliability, test–retest reliability, measurement invariance, and criterion validity (concurrent and predictive) based on cross-sectional and longitudinal data.

BACKGROUND Recently, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been addressed from the perspective of general public health. The role of problematic Internet use as a risk factor for psychological distress during the epidemic is another area of increased concern. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased psychological vulnerability for elementary and middle school teachers. OBJECTIVE The current study analyzed the role of problematic Internet use, including problematic smartphone (PSU) and problematic social media use (PSMU), as explanatory variables in terms of primary and middle school teachers’ fear of COVID-19. The effects of PNT of online teaching and fear of COVID-19 were also evaluated in terms of teachers’ psychological distress. The purpose was to empirically evaluate the relationships among these research variables using a proposed model of factors contributing to teachers’ psychological distress during COVID-19. METHODS Online survey data was collected from 9030 primary and middle school teachers. A conventional model based on recent publications in the field of problematic Internet use and psychological distress during COVID-19 was compared with a proposed model, based on prior findings indicating problematic Internet use variables serve as explanatory, rather than outcome, variables. RESULTS Structural Equation Modelling confirmed the superior goodness of fit of the proposed model (Χ2 (348) = 6220.27, RMSEA = 0.04, NNFI = 0.07, CFI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.07), as evidenced by aΔAIC of 578.505 (significant when greater than 10) between the conventional model and proposed model. The data also demonstrated that the proportion of participants with psychological distress was relatively high: depression (20.4%), anxiety (26.4%), and stress (10.2%). The problematic Internet use behaviors were significantly associated with fear of COVID-19 (PSU: t = 17.19, P < 0.001; PSMU: t = 7.91, P < 0.001). Fear of COVID-19 and PNT of online teaching were both positively related with psychological distress (Fear of COVID-19: t = 9.65, P < 0.001; PNT of online teaching: t = 10.83, P < 0.001). A significant moderating effect was found for PNT of online teaching on psychological distress (t = 5.68, P < 0.001), in that PNT of online teaching enhances the harmful effect of fear of COVID-19 on psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that problematic Internet use behaviors contribute to fear of COVID-19 which, in turn, results in psychological distress. PNT of online teaching was both directly associated with increased psychological distress as well as serving as a moderator enhancing the impact of fear of COVID-19 on psychological distress. We suggest that school administrators pay attention to teachers’ psychological needs and make efforts to assist teachers in experiencing greater autonomy and relatedness from interpersonal relationships to alleviate the psychological need thwarting that may arise from online teaching tasks.