Prediction of job stress in teachers based on forgiveness and thought control strategies and their relationships with stress

Introduction: Today, because of stress and changes in lifestyle, stress has become a common phenomenon and complex. The aim of the present study was to the prediction of job stress in teachers based on forgiveness and thought control strategies and their relationships with stress. Method: The population consisted of all primary school teachers in the academic year 2015-2016 and according to Morgan table, a total of 123 people selected by stage cluster sampling. The correlational method was used. Research tools were: Forgiveness Scale, Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS). All data were analyzed with statistical methods, Pearson's coefficient of correlation, stepwise multiple regression by SPSS software. The results indicated that forgiveness is negatively related to stress. Also, the elements of self-punishment, fear, and distraction (the components of mind control) are positively related to teachers stress and the components of social control and re-evaluation are negatively related to teachers stress. Conclusion: It showed that teachers with higher levels of forgiveness would experience less stress, as well as teachers with a higher level of self-punishment, fear and distraction would experience more stress and a finally higher level of social control and re-evaluation would cause less stress.