ASSESSING STRESS LEVELS AMONG SPECIAL NEEDS WORKERS IN PRIVATE CENTRES IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

Abstract

This quantitative cross-sectional study examined stress levels and occupational stressors among professionals working with special needs students in private centres in Penang, Malaysia. Despite the sector’s unique challenges, limited scholarly research has addressed this workforce within the Malaysian context. Thus, this study aims to measure the levels of stress experienced by special needs workers, to examine whether stress levels differ by gender, and to identify the main sources of stress in private special needs centres. Data were collected from 37 respondents using a structured online questionnaire incorporating the Teacher Stress Scale (TSS) and Teacher Thriving Scale (TTS). Findings revealed moderate-to-high stress levels (M = 3.2, SD = 0.7). Workload and time constraints emerged as the strongest predictors of stress, explaining 42% of the variance. While no significant differences were observed by gender or years of experience, both age and job role were found to significantly predict higher stress levels (p < 0.05). The results highlight the need for tailored mental health interventions and support strategies to enhance workforce well-being in Malaysia’s private special education sector. These insights can inform policy development, resource allocation, and organisational practices aimed at reducing stress and improving service quality.