摘要：This study focused on 52 new teachers from 16 schools around Penang Island. Objectives of the study were to examine how new teachers coped with the event of starting work at a new place, to gain understanding of the factors that could have influenced coping process of the teachers and to learn how their new social network developed. Two interviews were conducted within the period of six months; first after five months of the teachers being posted and second, after 11 months. The first interview included measures of demographic background, 8-item open personality indices, a comprehensive measure of available support, personal reports of social network development, psychological well-being indices and physical and psychological symptom checklists. The second interview included measures of possible stressors, coping and socials support related to possible stressors, personal reports of social network development, psychological well-being indices and physical and psychological symptom checklists. Results indicated that participants' psychological well-being increased significantly over the period of six months. Participants also reported work-related issues as their main stressors. A wide variety of coping mechanisms were also reported. The most important source of support for new teachers came from their own colleagues and in the forms of advice, guidance, and experience- and information-sharing. There was also a significant increase in the size of their social network over the period of six months. Findings of this study suggested that starting work was indeed a stressful time for new teachers and supportive working environment was essential in predicting a better adaptational outcome
