Working conditions, adverse events and metal health problems in a sample of 949 German teachers.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragen

Beitragende

  • J. Bauer - (Autor:in)
  • T. Unterbrink - (Autor:in)
  • A. Hack - (Autor:in)
  • R. Pfeifer - (Autor:in)
  • V. Buhl-Grießhaber - (Autor:in)
  • U. Müller - (Autor:in)
  • H. Wesche - (Autor:in)
  • M. Frommhold - (Autor:in)
  • R. Seibt - (Autor:in)
  • K. Scheuch - , Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin (Autor:in)
  • M. Wirsching - (Autor:in)

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was (1) to explore in detail the working load of teachers, (2) to analyse the extent of negative or threatening school-related events teachers are confronted with, and (3) to evaluate mental health strain by applying the general health questionnaire (GHQ). Methods: A sample of 949 teachers in 10 grammar schools (German: Gymnasien) and 79 secondary modern schools (German: Hauptschulen) was investigated applying (1) a questionnaire covering different aspects of the occupational burden and threatening school-associated events and (2) the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results: Based on what teachers indicated in the questionnaire, full-time teachers work more than 51 h weekly. More than 42% of our sample indicated verbal insults, almost 7% deliberate damage of personal belongings, and 4.4% threat of violence by pupils during the past 12 months. When applying the GHQ-12, we found that 29.8% of the sample report significant mental health problems. With respect to school types, teachers in secondary modern schools indicated more of such problems, while no effects regarding age, gender, or full/part-time teaching were observed. Conclusions: To be a teacher is a hard work and requires coping of considerable amount of adverse events. Based on the GHQ, nearly 30% of teachers suffer from significant mental health problems.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)442-449
Seitenumfang8
FachzeitschriftInternational Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Jahrgang80
Ausgabenummer5
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Apr. 2007
Peer-Review-StatusNein

Externe IDs

Scopus 33847689930

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Burnout, Health Conditions, Occupational Burden, Teacher, Violence, Mental Health, Workload