Abstract

• The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of social comparisons on teachers’ adjustment (adjustment indicators: job satisfaction, teachers’ sense of efficacy, intentions to quit, and burnout) and emotions. The study explored the differences in teachers’ uses of social comparisons, adjustment and emotions according to region, age, years of teaching experiences, and designations and the effects of each type of social comparisons on teachers’ adjustment and emotions were also studied. A total of 757 teachers (370 teachers from Yangon Region and 387 teachers from Kayin State) were chosen as a sample. Self-regulation strategy questionnaire composed of three subscales, each with two items; 5 items Teacher Satisfaction Survey; Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale that involved 24 items; Occupational Commitment Scale with 3 items; Maslach Burnout Inventory with three subscales with 22 items; and Teacher Emotions Scale with three subscales that consisted of 12 items were used as instruments for the study.According to this study, there were significant difference in teachers’ sense of efficacy, personal accomplishment, and anxiety by region. Teachers from Yangon Region were higher in teachers’ positive adjustment and less in anxiety than teachers from Kayin State. The results of ANOVA revealed that teachers with greater teaching experiences could make more adjustment and had more positive emotions than fewer teaching experienced teachers. In addition, senior teachers were found with greater intentions to quit and burnout and with less job satisfaction and teachers’ sense of efficacy than primary teachers. Senior teachers’ depersonalization and anger were higher and their personal accomplishment was lower than other teachers. Upward social comparison was explored to provide teachers’ positive adjustment and positive emotions though horizontal social comparison was related with teachers’ negative adjustment and negative emotions. Downward social comparison was found no relation with teachers’ adjustment and emotions.