title: The psychosocial work environment and mental health of teachers: a comparative study between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is limited research on teachers' psychosocial work environment and mental health, and most has been conducted in predominantly Western countries that share a number of important common characteristics that distinguish them from countries in many other regions of the world. Within the framework of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) theoretical model, the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and mental health of teachers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Hong Kong (HK) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-time qualified teachers from both the UK and HK (N = 259) participated in the research. They were asked to fill in a set of questionnaires that measured their perceived stress, mental health, psychosocial work environment and demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived stress was found to predict teachers' mental health. Overcommitment, the intrinsic component of the ERI model, predicted mental health among HK teachers. There were significant differences in the psychosocial variables between UK and HK teachers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed support for the ERI model and in particular for the relationship between stress and mental health and demonstrated the role of overcommitment in the teaching profession. Some implications are discussed for combating cultural differences in managing the psychosocial work environment of teachers.
authors: Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, International House, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK.
authors: Jessica Janice
authors: JJ
authors: Tang
authors: Stavroula
authors: S
authors: Leka
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: MacLennan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult