COVID-19 and Kazakhstani Women Teachers: An Empirical Study of Factors Affecting Mental Health

Abstract The study investigates stress and organizational climate factors affecting mental health of women school and university teachers in pre‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 periods in the context of Central Asia considering the case of Kazakhstan. The results of quantitative empirical study show that the pandemic has caused an increase in perceived anxiety and depression among women teachers. Women teachers in urban areas experienced greater anxiety and depression than rural teachers. The moderation interaction predictor indicates that the effect of perceived stress becomes less negative with increased level of Material and Technical Security or Access to Technological Resources. In conditions of COVID-19 the effect of Material Technical Security/Access to Technological Resources on Mental Health becomes significant when women teachers have a better Social Climate at work. Its effect on Mental Health becomes significant when women teachers are more engaged in the decision making process with clearly defined organizational goals according to the Participatory Management policy and when women teachers more frequently receive Performance Feedback.