Psychosocial Aspects at work and the Quality of Sleep of Professors in Higher Education

Lifestyle, meal times, and sleep patterns changes in higher education professors during COVID-19: Association with non-communicable chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions had to swiftly adapt and transition to remote teaching in order to maintain academic activities. However, these changes presented a number of challenges for professors, which could have negative effects on their health.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between changes in dietary and sleep habits, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Brazilian higher education professors during the pandemic period.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted using an online form. Generalized linear models, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, were used to verify the difference between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Logistic regression models were used to predict the odds ratio (OR) for the development of NCDs according to physical activity time, sedentary behavior time, dietary and sleep patterns.

RESULTS

A total of 936 professors residing across Brazil participated in the survey. The duration of sedentary behavior increased, sleep duration slightly decreased, and meal times shifted to earlier during the pandemic. A total of 22.9%of the participants reported the diagnosis of some NCDs during this period. Physical activity practice was associated with a lower risk of diseases during the pandemic, regardless of the intensity performed. On the other hand, late eating habits and excessive food consumption during the pandemic were associated with a higher risk.

CONCLUSION

The results provide data that can help in the development of public policies that promote health actions to minimize the consequences associated with the pandemic period.

Physical activity level and factors associated with perceived stress among Peruvian university professors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the transition to remote work, triggering variations in stress and physical activity (PA), associated with context-specific instability.

Objective

To identify the association between perceived stress (PS) and the level of physical activity (PA) and explore its relationship with the sociodemographic, family, work and individual characteristics of professors working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods

Cross-sectional analytical study based on a virtual survey of professors. PS was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and PA using an International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The prevalence of high PS and the association with PA were estimated using a Poisson regression analysis with robust variance that estimated crude prevalence ratios (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Five models were developed to assess associations of PS and PA with sociodemographic, family, work, and individual variables.

Results

The information of 191 professors was analyzed; 39.27% were women, aged 52 (41-60). The prevalence of high stress was 47.12%. The age and being head of household did not show significant individual associations with PS. However, the regression analysis assessing the association of PS and other factors showed that compared to the moderate PA group, a statistically significant association was found between stress and high PA (aPR = 0.19; 0.06-0.59), low PA (aPR = 1.43; 1.02-2.01), mainly influenced by age, being head of household and sleep quality.

Conclusion

Stress was associated with PA level, family and individual factors. These findings allow identifying characteristics, such as being head of household, age and quality of sleep among teachers, as being associated with a higher probability of having high stress. Subsequent studies should consider the role of individuals and working conditions as part of occupational health surveillance, given the presence of hybrid education in the education sector.

Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on sleep duration, sleep quality and burnout in faculty members of higher education in Mexico

This paper aims to assess the differences and associations of the effect of COVID-19 on sleep habits, sleep quality, and burnout symptoms among faculty members of higher education in Mexico. This was a cross-sectional study with a total sample of 214 faculty members of higher education from Mexico between May 18th and June 10th of 2020. We applied questionnaires containing sociodemographic and specific questions regarding sleep habits, sleep quality, and burnout symptoms. The results show that during COVID-19 faculty members delayed their bedtime and rise time. No change was found with weekdays time in bed, however, during weekends, time in bed was more than an hour shorter. Social jetlag decreased significantly during COVID-19. Furthermore, during COVID-19, those who reported low sleep quality were more likely to report higher symptoms of emotional exhaustion and those who slept less on weekends were more likely to report higher symptoms of depersonalization. These results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have an effect on sleep and sleep quality and burnout symptoms of faculty members from higher education in Mexico.

Trabalho remoto docente e saúde: repercussões das novas exigências em razão da pandemia da Covid-19

Resumo O estudo objetivou descrever características do trabalho remoto, situação de saúde mental e qualidade de sono na pandemia da Covid-19 em docentes da Bahia. Foi conduzido websurvey, seguindo protocolo CHERRIES, com professoras/es de todos os níveis de ensino da rede particular do estado. Participaram 1.444 docentes, de 18 julho a 30 de julho de 2020. Predominaram mulheres (76,1%), 21-41 anos (61,6%), negras (71,9%), dez anos ou mais na profissão (56,9%). Na pandemia, 51,4% relataram alterações no contrato de trabalho e 76,8%, aumento da jornada laboral. O ambiente domiciliar e equipamentos tinham baixo nível de adequação ao trabalho remoto: espaço físico (19,6%), mobiliário (21,7%), nível de ruído (17,2%), computadores (44,5%) e internet banda larga (36,7%). Entre as mulheres, 42,3% referiram sobrecarga doméstica alta; entre os homens, 17,4%. As mulheres apresentaram situação de saúde preocupante, destacando-se crises de ansiedade (53,7%), mau humor (78,0%), transtornos mentais comuns (69,0%) e qualidade do sono ruim (84,6%). A pandemia remodelou as formas de exercer o ofício docente. O trabalho, transferido para a casa, se sobrepôs às atividades domésticas e familiares, produzindo consequências à saúde docente que, mesmo pouco conhecidas, são alarmantes. Os resultados fortalecem a necessidade de ações de enfrentamento para situações de calamidade pública, medidas de regulação do trabalho remoto e proteção à saúde docente.