Abstract
This study examines survey data collected from teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how they experienced non-specific psychological distress. This analysis focuses on the role of job satisfaction and efficacy, confidence in the use of protective behaviors such as masking, and levels of virus anxiety. In addition, we consider group differences or inequalities between different demographic subpopulations. Results suggest that levels of psychological distress were most highly related to teachers' levels of virus anxiety and to a lesser extent, their levels of job satisfaction and efficacy. While we find some weak support for differences in distress based on race and gender, and for confidence in protective behaviors, these effects are removed when controlling for virus anxiety and job satisfaction and efficacy. We discuss implications that identify possible solutions to mitigate teachers’ distress levels.