Mental Health of Elementary Schoolteachers in Southern Brazil: Working Conditions and Health Consequences

• Published in: TheScientificWorld Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Rocha, Laurelize Pereira, Almeida, Marlise Capa Verde de, Bonow, Clarice Alves, Cezar-Vaz, Marta Regina, Borges, Anelise Miritz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2015; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety - etiology; Anxiety - physiopathology; Brazil; Cities; College faculty; Data collection; Elementary school teachers; Elementary school teaching; Elementary schools; Faculty; Families & family life; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Occupational diseases; Occupational Health; Psychological aspects; Questionnaires; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; School environment; Schools; Self Report; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology; Stress; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Students; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teaching; Wages & salaries; Work environment; Working conditions; Workloads; Workplace - psychology; Brazil; Rio Grande
• ISSN: 2356-6140; 1537-744X; 1537-744X
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/825925

The mental health of educators is a growing problem in many countries. This study sought to identify self-reported stressful working conditions of elementary schoolteachers and the biopsychosocial consequences of those working conditions and then identify working conditions that promote well-being for teachers in the workplace. Exploratory study was done with 37 teachers. Data collection was performed using a structured interview with a questionnaire. Results show that stressful working conditions are related to inadequate salary, an excessive number of activities, and having to take work home. Biopsychosocial consequences include anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. There was a statistically significant association between inadequate salary and anxiety (p = 0.01) and between an excessive number of activities and stress (p = 0.01). Teachers reported that a good relationship among colleagues is a working condition that promotes well-being in the workplace. The identification of stressful working conditions for teachers, the biopsychosocial consequences, and working conditions that promote well-being in the workplace are relevant to determining actions that improve the work environment and, consequently, the health of teachers.