Effort-reward imbalance for learning is associated with fatigue in school children.
We examined relationships among fatigue, sleep quality, and effort-reward imbalance for learning in school children. We developed an effort-reward for learning scale in school students and examined its reliability and validity. Self-administered surveys, including the effort reward for leaning scale and fatigue scale, were completed by 1,023 elementary school students (grades 4-6) and 1,361 junior high school students (grades 7-9) at the end of 2006. Effort-reward imbalance for learning was associated with a high incidence of fatigue and sleep problems in elementary and junior high school students of both genders. A good relationship with family was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school boys, and a good relationship with friends was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school girls by multiple regression analysis. Fatigue score was associated with effort-reward imbalance and fatigue and quality of sleep in schoolchildren. Fatigue may lead to a decline in school performance, negative health outcomes, or refusal to attend school. These results suggest that it is desirable to consider social support, quality of sleep, and effort-reward imbalance when managing fatigue in school children.
Fukuda
Sanae
S
Department of Biomarker and Molecular Biophysics, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. fukuda@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Yamano
Emi
E
Joudoi
Takako
T
Mizuno
Kei
K
Tanaka
Masaaki
M
Kawatani
Junko
J
Takano
Miyuki
M
Tomoda
Akemi
A
Imai-Matsumura
Kyoko
K
Miike
Teruhisa
T
Watanabe
Yasuyoshi
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012201:Reward; D012574:Schools; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*