title: Factors of working conditions and prolonged fatigue among teachers at public elementary and junior high schools.
abstract: Prolonged fatigue among elementary and junior high school teachers not only damages their health but also affects the quality of education. The aim of this study was to determine the factors of working conditions associated with prolonged fatigue among teachers at public elementary and junior high schools. We distributed a self-reported, anonymous questionnaire to 3,154 teachers (1,983 in elementary schools, 1,171 in junior high schools) working in public schools in a city in Japan. They were asked to assess 18 aspects of their working conditions using a seven-point Likert scale. Prolonged fatigue was measured using the Japanese version of the checklist individual strength questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between working conditions and prolonged fatigue. Gender, age, and school type were introduced as confounders. In all, 2,167 teachers participated in this study. Results showed that qualitative and quantitative workload (time pressure due to heavy workload, interruptions, physically demanding job, extra work at home), communication with colleagues (poor communication, lack of support), and career factors (underestimation of performance by the board of education or supervisors, occupational position not reflecting training, lack of prospects for work, job insecurity) were associated with prolonged fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Graduate School of Medical Science,Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1–15–1 Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Guoqin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Yae
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005178:Faculty; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult