OnlyEvaluation of the occupational health of non-university teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive cross-sectional research design (Preprint)

Abstract

Health is considered one of the most relevant issues of the human being. If we focus on the quality of health of teachers, this is a delicate and worrying issue since the health indices in this group show that they are worse than in other work environments.

The main objective is to evaluate the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the health of the teaching staff at all educational levels (except university level) in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain).

The methodology is based on a descriptive cross-sectional research design with a sample of 920 teachers. Main Outcome Measures. Two validated questionnaires were applied for the Spanish population, a teacher health questionnaire and the Goldberg GHQ-12 questionnaire. Likewise, sociodemographic and occupational data were included.

The prevalence of psychological stress according to the GHQ-12 scale has averaged 59.7%, with women being the most affected in this sense (62.8% women versus 50.4% men). Women also suffered greater exhaustion and greater physical complaints (muscular, cognitive and voice). Teaching staff at High Schools showed lower satisfaction, lower self-efficacy and greater voice disorders.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left health problems for teachers, especially women. The results of psychological stress in our research are much superior to other studies prior to it, being necessary a specific treatment and work in the classrooms for both students and teachers to reduce the risk of suffering from depression or anxiety.