What are the perceptions of teachers in India regarding positive teacher-student relationships as a protective factor for the mental health of students?

Abstract

Positive Teacher-Student Relationship (TSR) is one of the major protective factors for the mental health of the students and is the most significant factor in the social, emotional and academic development of the young ones. This factor has been researched and by many researchers in different parts of the world, but I found no studies done in India regarding this subject. In the current study, I took the opportunity to examine the perceptions of teachers in India regarding positive outcomes of positive TSRs and the different barriers they are facing in building good relationships with their students. I chose qualitative approach and questionnaire survey with open-ended questions as a tool to collect the perceptions of total 30 teacher participants from one school in Chandigarh and one school in Jalandhar city of state Punjab in India. Findings indicated that teachers do perceive positive Teacher-Student Relationships as a major factor for the social, emotional and academic development which leads to the good mental health in students, but they have mentioned potential barriers they are facing in building good relationships with students in classroom.