Predictors of mental health in female teachers

Abstract

Objective: Teaching profession is characterised by an above-average rate of psychosomatic and mental health impairment due to work-related stress. The aim of the study was to identify predictors of mental health in female teachers. Material and Methods: A sample of 630 female teachers (average age 47±7 years) participated in a screening diagnostic inventory. Mental health was surveyed with the General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12. The following parameters were measured: specific work conditions (teacher-specific occupational history), scales of the Effort-Reward-Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire as well as cardiovascular risk factors, physical complaints (BFB) and personal factors such as inability to recover (FABA), sense of coherence (SOC) and health behaviour. Results: First, mentally fit (MH + ) and mentally impaired teachers (MH -) were differentiated based on the GHQ-12 sum score (MH + : < 5; MH -: ≥ 5); 18% of the teachers showed evidence of mental impairment. There were no differences concerning work-related and cardiovascular risk factors as well as health behaviour between MH + and MH -. Binary logistic regressions identified 4 predictors that showed a significant effect on mental health. The effort-reward-ratio proved to be the most relevant predictor, while physical complaints as well as inability to recover and sense of coherence were identified as advanced predictors (explanation of variance: 23%). Conclusion: Contrary to the expectations, classic work-related factors can hardly contribute to the explanation of mental health. Additionally, cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviour have no relevant influence. However, effort-rewardratio, physical complaints and personal factors are of considerable influence on mental health in teachers. These relevant predictors should become a part of preventive arrangements for the conservation of teachers' health in the future.

Unhealthy Mental States Are Positively Associated with Subjective Pain or Fatigue in Specific Body Sites among High School Teachers in Japan

“…The previous studies have shown positive relationships between headaches and mental illness in females [8] [26]. Another study has shown that those who have tension-type headache tend to have anxiety and depression than those who do not have [27].…”

“…The previous studies on mental illness in which GHQ-12 was used has reported the relationship between mental illness and subjective fatigue or pain in each body site; head, neck, shoulders, back, and lower back, respectively [8] [22] [23]. Seibt et al has shown that 78% of mentally unhealthy female teachers felt pain in the neck and back and 58% had headaches [8]. Research in the UK has reported a relationship between lower mental states and shoulder pain among workers of five differing job types, including mail carriers and cashiers [23].…”

“…There were few previous studies that examined the relationship between mental health and pain in various body regions among school teachers [8] [9]. Seibt et al has found that unhealthy mental states were related to neck and back pain and headache especially in female teachers [8]. There is no epidemiological study on the relationship between mental states and physical signs in specific body sites among teachers in Japan.…”

“…Patients are suffering from depression complain of physical signs, not depression, in outpatients treated in primary care [7]. There were few previous studies that examined the relationship between mental health and pain in various body regions among school teachers [8] [9]. Seibt et al has found that unhealthy mental states were related to neck and back pain and headache especially in female teachers [8].…”

Well-being and associated factors among elementary school teachers in southern Brazil

“…Thus, specific conditions of work organization and physical characteristics of the school setting may not be the most important predictors when evaluating subjective health problems in teachers, such as mental health disorders 14 .…”