Associations between different types of physical activity and teachers' perceived mental, physical, and work-related health

Domain matters: An examination of college student physical activity participation patterns by gender and race/ethnicity

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) consists of multiple domains, including leisure-time PA (LTPA), occupational PA (OPA), and transportation PA (TPA), though limited research has examined these domains among college students.

METHODS

This cross sectional, online survey asked undergraduate students to self-report demographics (gender, race/ethnicity, employment) and PA (LTPA, TPA, and OPA). Participants were categorized as meeting/not meeting current aerobic PA recommendations with only LTPA and with all domains of PA. Analyses examined differences by domain and demographics.

RESULTS

For participants (n = 3732) when only considering LTPA, 79% met recommendations, while considering all forms of PA resulted in 94% of students meeting recommendations. Gender and race/ethnicity differences in the odds of meeting PA recommendations were present with only LTPA, however when considering all PA domains, some disparities were no longer present.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight how different domains of activity contribute to overall PA and the relationship with gender and race/ethnicity.

Predictors of musculoskeletal disorders among special education teachers in Sabah, Malaysia

Special education teachers encounter considerable occupational challenges, yet there is limited information concerning musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) within this group. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap by determining the prevalence of MSD, investigating associated factors of MSD, and identifying predictors of MSD among special education teachers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among special education teachers in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang, Sabah. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and musculoskeletal fitness assessments. Chi-square tests and independent t-tests were utilized to determine factors associated with MSD, while multiple logistic regression was performed to develop a comprehensive predictive model for MSD, which was then validated and tested for model fitness. A total of 122 individuals participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 95 %. The findings revealed a high prevalence of MSD (77.9 %) among special education teachers, with the lower back, shoulder, neck, knee, upper back, and foot being the most affected regions. The multivariable regression model identified several predictors of MSD, including marital status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.49-15.40), body fat percentage (aOR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.12), teaching in prolonged standing for few days a week (aOR = 3.20, 95 % CI = 0.99-10.29) or every day (aOR = 6.20, 95 % CI = 1.44-26.70), mindfulness (aOR = 0.47, 95 % CI = 0.22-0.98), and back extensor strength (aOR = 5.86, 95 % CI = 1.92-17.92). This study highlights the necessity of implementing interventions focusing on the ergonomic, psychological, and musculoskeletal fitness components to mitigate the prevalence of MSD and improve the overall well-being of special education teachers.

The Role of Physical Exercise in the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Manual Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common occupational health problem in the European Union. Physical exercise interventions have been investigated in the prevention of WMSDs in many sectors. Therefore, our aim was to assess the effect of physical exercise in manual workers for the primary and secondary prevention of WMSDs. We conducted a systematic search of the literature and papers were included if: the participants were adult employees exclusively engaged in manual labor tasks; non-acute physical exercise intervention; pain, disability, physical functioning, or health-related quality of life outcome, with pre-post intervention measurements. We retrieved 10419 unique records and included 23 studies. A random effect meta-analysis was conducted on the studies with a control group design, using a three level model to estimate the pooled effect for pain outcomes (g = 0.4339, 95% CI : 0.1267 - 0.7412, p < 0.01), and a two-level model for disability outcomes (g = 0.6279, 95% CI : 0.3983 - 0.8575, p < 0.0001). Subset analysis revealed a moderate-to-large effect on the VAS outcome (g = 0.5866, 95% CI: 0.3102 - 0.8630, p < 0.0001). Meta-regression on pain outcomes revealed a significant effect for sex, age, study quality, and body segments tested. The analyses on all outcomes except VAS showed substantial heterogeneity (I2pain = 93%, of which 72% at the study level, I2disability = 78%, and I2vas = 56%, of which 44% at the study level). Physical exercise programs seem to have a positive effect on pain and disability stemming from WRMSDs in manual workers.

The relationship between physical activity and the health of primary and secondary school teachers: the chain mediating effects of body image and self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

Active health is a new concept, model, and system to maintain the state of whole-person health. In the context of the increasingly serious health problems of primary and secondary school teachers, it is of great significance to explore the relationship between physical activity and primary and secondary school teachers' health based on the active health perspective.

METHODS

The survey involving 741 primary and secondary school teachers across representative provinces in China utilized the International Physical Activity Scale, Body Imagery State Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Data analysis employed SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 software.

RESULTS

While no significant gender disparities were observed in body image and self-efficacy, age groups exhibited a bipartite and "V" shaped distribution. Female teachers demonstrated higher physical activity levels (2456.46) and superior physical fitness compared to males (2297.86). A positive correlation emerged between physical activity, body image, self-efficacy, and health status. Importantly, body image and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and health status, accounting for 82.31% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary and secondary school teachers have real problems such as teachers' physical activity is generally insufficient, teachers' body image status is generally poor, and teachers' self-efficacy is low; physical activity is an important factor in promoting primary and secondary school teachers' health status, and low, medium, and high levels of activity all have a promoting effect on the health of primary and secondary school teachers, and the more active primary and secondary school teachers are in terms of physical activity, the better their body image, self-efficacy, and health status are, and the more active primary and secondary school teachers are in terms of physical activity, the more positive the physical activity, self-efficacy, and health status are. The more physically active primary and secondary school teachers are, the better their physical intention, self-efficacy and health status are.

SUGGESTIONS

improve the quality and effectiveness, promote the concept of active health among teachers; empower teachers, strengthen the institutional protection of teachers' health; reduce the burden and increase the quantity,and optimise the supply of health services for teachers.

Relationship between Lifestyle Determinants and Perceived Mental and Physical Health in Italian Nursery and Primary School Teachers after the COVID-19 Lockdown

The COVID-19 lockdown and the consequent distance school learning made epochal changes in children's lifestyles; however, little is known about the lockdown effects on school teacher habits. The aim of this observational study is to examine differences in the lifestyle of nursery (NS) and primary (PS) school teachers after one of the COVID-19 lockdowns and investigate the relationship between perceived physical/mental health and demographics, weight status and lifestyle determinants, such as adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and physical activity level (PAL). A total sample of 265 participants (49.22 ± 6.95 years) filled out an online information questionnaire and standardized questionnaires to collect data on the Physical Component Summary (PCS), Mental Component Summary (MCS), PAL and MD-adherence. A t-test or ANOVA analysis was used to assess differences between quantitative variables: Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests for qualitative variables. Spearman's correlations and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify categorical factors associated with classes of PCS and MCS. Teachers showed sufficient/high PAL, with a significantly higher level in the PS group (p < 0.05). This last showed a higher PCS score (p < 0.05). No differences between groups were found for MD-adherence, which was moderate/fair in both groups, and MCS, which was sufficient/good. Logistic regression showed that the only positive predictor of a high PCS was being physically active (OR 2.10, 95%CI 1.05-4.2, p < 0.05), while MCS was positively associated with normal weight status (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.33-0.78, p = 0.020). This study highlights that PS teachers are more active than the NS group and perceive a higher physical health level. Mere predictors of physical and mental well-being are PA practice and being normal weight, respectively. This suggests that interventions to improve perceived health in this work category should be focused on the promotion of physical activity practice and on the maintenance of an optimal weight status.

The mediating effects of motivation on the relations between occupational stress and physical activity among underresourced afterschool program staff

OBJECTIVE

Guided by Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to examine the potential mediating effects of autonomous and controlled motivations on physical activity (PA) experiences of afterschool program (ASP) staff with occupational stress.

METHOD

A total of 58 ASP staff provided full data. Staff occupational stress and self-determination motivations for PA were assessed. Participants' daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured using accelerometer wear. A path analysis was used to address the research purpose.

RESULTS

Occupational stress negatively and indirectly predicted daily MVPA which was mediated by controlled motivation (β = - 4.15, p <.05). Autonomous motivation directly and positively predicted daily MVPA across all types and levels of ASP staff occupational stress (β = 9.93, p =.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Autonomous motivation is a powerful predictor of staff PA levels despite the degree to which they experience stress. In contrast, controlled motivations are more vulnerable to occupational stress, and can lead to lower MVPA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Connect Through PLAY: A Staff-based Physical Activity Intervention for Middle School Youth (Connect). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03732144 . Registered 11/06/2018.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03732144.

Prevalence of low back pain and disability among secondary school teacher in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional analytical study

Introduction

Lower back pain is common worldwide and affects over 600,000 people annually, including teachers. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and disability among secondary school teachers in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included secondary school teachers in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. 34 schools were selected using a multistage stratified sampling approach. Teachers were allotted randomly and proportionally to each school. Data was collected by anonymous questionnaire having three elements: sociodemographic and health-related questions, the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. The anthropometric data was also included. Both unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 601 teachers participated in the study with 62.56% reported low back pain. The overall mean age was 40.31 ± 8.13 years. The male-to-female ratio was similar. Back pain was significantly higher among females than males (73.36 and 51.52%, respectively). Additionally, back pain will significantly increase when stress levels and the number of classes increases. A positive correlation was found between age with low back pain (p = 0.001).There was minimal disability in 64.63% of the 376 teachers who reported low back pain, moderate disability in 29.79%, and severe disability in 4.79%, and only three (0.8%) were considered crippled. Females were more frequently seen in moderate and crippled categories, and perceived stress levels generally increased mean disability scores. Age and female gender were revealed to be significant predictors of low back pain by logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.07) and (adjusted OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.45-3.05), respectively. The number of classes per week was also a significant predictor.

Conclusion

This study adds to the epidemiological evidence that reveals a high prevalence of low back pain and disability among teachers. Identified risk factors in this study may also reinforce the importance of setting different interventions and preventive measures to reduce lower back pain risk.

The Association between Perceived Stress, Quality of Life, and Level of Physical Activity in Public School Teachers

Chronic high stress levels related to work impact the quality of life (QoL). Although physical activity improves QoL, it is not clear whether this life study habit could attenuate possible relationships between QoL and stress in public school teachers. The sample for this study was made up of 231 teachers from public schools. QoL was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey and physical activity via Baecke's questionnaire. A Likert scale assessed stress level perception. Poisson Regression analyzed the association between stress level and QoL domains adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic conditions (model 1). In model 2, physical activity level was inserted in addition to model 1. Seven out of eight domains of QoL, except the domain of pain, were associated with high levels of stress (all p < 0.05-model 1). However, in model 2, the associations of the high levels of stress with general health status (p = 0.052) and functional capacity (p = 0.081) domains of QoL were mitigated. Our results indicated that physical activity mitigated the relationship between higher levels of stress and lower perception of general health status and functional capacity domains in secondary public school teachers.

Doing what matters in times of stress: No-nonsense meditation and occupational well-being in COVID-19

While the COVID-19 pandemic challenged the general public's health and well-being, it exacerbated the pre-existing well-being issues in the educational sector in many countries. Mindfulness-based interventions are often applied to protect and promote occupational well-being. To investigate how the well-being benefits of these interventions arise, we selected one accessible technique that is used in most of them: focused attention meditation. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, 199 teachers voluntarily practiced five to ten minutes of meditation together with their pupils, every morning for six months. We employed a three-wave longitudinal design to follow any changes in the meditating teachers' well-being and compared these changes to a waitlist control condition of 42 teachers. Three dimensions of well-being were measured at baseline, half-time, and post-intervention: emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. Latent growth curve models revealed that the meditation technique not only improves well-being but also prevents the development of well-being problems. The practice of focused attention meditation resulted in improvements in emotional and physical well-being and prevented the development of cognitive well-being problems that were observed within the control condition. The effects were strongest for emotional and cognitive well-being and followed a linear trend. This paper shows that the well-being effects of mindfulness-based interventions are at least in part due to the focused attention meditation that is practiced in them. Occupational groups that experience emotional, cognitive, or physical well-being issues can benefit from a few minutes of focused attention meditation per day. Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN61170784 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN61170784).

Physical activity and its correlates among school teachers in a semi-urban district of Nepal

Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the effective strategies for mitigating non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy ageing, and preventing premature mortality. In South Asia, up to 34.0% of adults are insufficiently active, and up to 44.1% of adults in Nepal. We sought to assess self-reported PA status and its correlates among teachers in the semi-urban district of Nepal. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among teachers at randomly selected public secondary schools in Bhaktapur, Nepal, from November 2018-April 2019. PA status was assessed in Metabolic Equivalent to task minutes per week using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Long Form. Point estimates and odds ratios were calculated at a 95% confidence interval, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 360 participants, the mean (SD) age was 40.3 (10.2) years, with 52.5% female participation. A low level of PA was seen among 11.9% (95% CI: 8.4-15.2) of teachers, and more than half (56.0%) of the activity was only moderate intensity. Domestic and garden work was the main contributor (43.0%) of total PA, while leisure time was the least (14.0%). Among the socio-demographic factors, only sex was significantly associated (p = 0.005) with PA. Participants living in locations with walkable areas were 3.4 times (95% CI: 1.6-7.3) more likely to be engaged in moderate-to-high level PA than those without. In our study, the point prevalence of insufficient PA among teachers working at public secondary schools was higher than the national point prevalence. PA promotion programs targeting sedentary populations like school teachers should be developed to reduce the point prevalence of insufficient PA.

Structural modeling of EFL/ESL teachers' physical activity, mental health, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is known to positively affect individuals' mental and physical health, especially those who experience high levels of stress, such as teachers. Previous studies have examined the relationship between teachers' PA, mental health, and well-being. Still, there is a lack of research on the direct and indirect effects of PA and self-efficacy.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between teachers' PA, mental health, well-being, and self-efficacy among ESL/EFL teachers. A total of 364 Chinese English language teachers were selected through convenience sampling. Mental health, physical activity, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy instruments were used.

METHODOLOGY

The data was analyzed using Smart PLS software, and the hypothesized model was evaluated. The results indicated an acceptable level of divergent and convergent validity and goodness of fit.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that PA directly predicts teachers' mental health and well-being, but the direct structural relationship between teachers' PA and self-efficacy was not confirmed. However, the results showed that teachers' PA contributes to their self-efficacy by enhancing their mental and psychological well-being. The total effect of teachers' PA on their self-efficacy was significant. Additionally, mental health and psychological well-being strongly influenced teachers' self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, regular weekly physical activity can help EFL/ESL teachers foster their mental health, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy. These findings have theoretical and practical significance for teachers, trainers, and educational psychologists.

Burnout, self-rated general health and life satisfaction among teachers and other academic occupational groups

Introduction

Teachers work in a job with specific demands that can strain individual coping capabilities and can pose a risk for the development of psychological problems. Prior studies showed that teachers - in comparison with other occupational groups - had high risks of job-related psychological exhaustion. In our study we compared teachers and other occupational groups on burnout, general life satisfaction and self-rated general health. In addition, we analyzed if sociodemographic and job-related factors were relevant predictors of these outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed data from a total of 1,500 subjects arising from the Gutenberg Health Study. Binary logistic regression models and descriptive statistics were calculated to determine potential differences between the occupational group membership and the predictive values of sociodemographic and job-related variables.

Results

The occupational groups did not differ significantly in terms of burnout, self-rated general health and satisfaction with life. Logistic regression models showed which sociodemographic and job-related variables were associated with the outcomes. Female sex, part-time employment as well as work-privacy conflicts showed particular predictive relevance.

Discussion

Job-related interventions for teachers should aim at specific strains, e.g., arising out of work-privacy conflicts where interventions should focus on support of female teachers.

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.

Lifestyle and work-related correlates of psychosocial health among Australian teachers: a cross-sectional study

Aim

This study examined the psychosocial (psychological distress, job-specific wellbeing, burnout) health of a large sample of teachers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, specifically the association between psychosocial health, work-related factors, and lifestyle behaviours.

Subject & methods

An online survey collected lifestyle behaviours, work-related factors, and socio-demographics from primary and secondary school teachers in NSW from February to October 2021. Associations between work-related factors, lifestyle behaviours, and psychosocial health were modelled using logistic regression in R and adjusted for gender, age, and geographic location.

Results

In our sample (n = 1136), 75% were women and 28% of the sample worked in rural or remote areas. Women reported higher levels of psychological distress (51%), compared with men (42%), and over 30% of teachers reported high levels of burnout. Teachers who engaged in three or more positive health-related behaviours had lower odds of psychological distress and burnout as well as higher odds of job-specific wellbeing. Multiple work-related factors such as hours worked, teaching load, teaching experience, teacher type, and teacher role were associated with one or more aspects of psychosocial health after adjusting for socio-demographic variables.

Conclusion

More is needed to support the psychosocial health of teachers in NSW. Future lifestyle programs for this population should include psychosocial outcomes to further explore the relationship between teachers' health-related behaviour and their psychosocial health.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10389-023-01874-9.

Self-Reported Physical Activity and Perception of Athleticism in American Equestrian Athletes

BACKGROUND

Over 75% of American adults are not meeting aerobic and muscular physical activity recommendations, with the majority being females. Equestrian activities are a potential avenue to increase physical activity, especially in females who account for approximately 90% of sport participants. This study describes perceptions of equestrian activities and establishes the patterns of self-reported equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity engagement to understand participation in activities that may sustain physical activity across the lifespan.

METHODS

American equestrians (n = 2551) completed an anonymous online survey with questions about perceptions and benefits of equestrian activities, demographics, and engagement in equestrian activities, barn work, and nonequestrian activities.

RESULTS

There were 2039 completed responses, (95.6% female), with representation from all regions of the United States. Professionals (20.6%), amateurs (39.1%), and recreational (40.3%) comprised participation status. Significantly fewer recreational participants perceived equestrian as physical activity and as a sport than amateurs (P < .05) and professionals (P < .05). Engagement in equestrian and barn work physical activity was significantly higher in professionals (P < .0001), followed by amateurs (P < .0001), with the lowest in recreational equestrians (P = .001). Professional and amateur equestrians engaged in significantly more nonequestrian physical activity than recreational participants (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Equestrian physical activity engagement is dependent on the status of participation. Equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity do meet physical activity aerobic and muscular recommendations and should be encouraged as a physical activity for females across the lifespan.

Does physical activity mediate the associations between blue space and mental health? A cross-sectional study in Australia

BACKGROUND

Research has begun to examine whether blue space is beneficial to mental health. While results are promising, it is difficult to know which aspects of mental health or mental ill-health may benefit most. Physical activity has been proposed as one potential mechanism via which blue space may be associated with better mental health. However, very few studies have examined mechanisms. We examined associations between blue space proximity and a range of mental health outcomes and examined which of these associations were mediated by physical activity.

METHODS

350 participants (M = 38.74, SD = 14.92, 70% female) self-reported their weekly physical activity and completed measures of depression, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing. We then used GIS software to calculate blue space proximity (i.e., coastal and inland), and structural equation modelling with mediation paths to determine the role of physical activity in the associations between bluespace and mental health.

RESULTS

Physical activity partially mediated the associations between coastal proximity and depression (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.001, 0.05), anxiety (β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06), and wellbeing (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.08, - 0.01), and fully mediated the associations between inland water proximity and depression (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.003, 0.05), anxiety (β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.07), and wellbeing (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.07, - 0.01).

CONCLUSION

While physical activity appears to explain associations between inland blue space and mental health outcomes, it only partially explains the association between coastal blue space and mental health, suggesting other mechanisms may play a role and even inactive exposure may be beneficial.

Motivation, stress, recovery, and physical activity of teachers: discoveries with the Reiss Motivation Profile® and the Firstbeat® measurement

Aim

Teaching is known as a high-stress occupation. Managing fatigue and promoting work engagement, teachers' expectations and perceptions can impact work-related stress-recovery-balance and physical activity levels. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between intrinsic motivational factors and the autonomic nervous system, such as heart rate and heart rate variability regulation, sleep, and physical activity levels.

Methods

The research included 66 primary and high school teachers in Tampere, Finland, in 2020-2021. The Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP) was selected as an instrument to provide a practical approach to understanding people's intrinsic motivators and the effects of those on the Firstbeat®-measured heart rate and heart rate variability, and accelerometry. Stepwise multiple linear regression models were used to assess whether the RMP motives reflected Firstbeat®-measured outcomes.

Results

Motives such as Acceptance, Eating, Family, Physical Activity, Power, Tranquillity, and Vengeance were found to have a relationship with Firstbeat®-measured outcomes. An increase in the Physical Activity motive was related to lower stress and less light physical activity. Furthermore, an increase in the Physical Activity motive showed a relationship with better recovery and a higher amount of vigorous physical activity. However, the statistical analysis of heart rate and heart rate variability showed only low explanatory power (R2 = 0.111-0.140) for stress, recovery, and sleep. On the contrary, the explanatory power of measurements related to physical activity and sedentary behavior was higher (R2 = 0.171-0.298). In addition, the need for Acceptance as an important intrinsic motive that may prevent people from vigorous physical activity deserves further research.

Conclusion

The results indicated that there are several factors affecting the autonomous nervous system but also behavior. The basic desires explained sedentary and physical activity behavior better than the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. The 16 life motives can serve as a valuable theory for understanding better how to encourage people to have healthier habits.

Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Theory of Planned Behaviour on Physical Activity Intention among Secondary School Teachers of Nepal

Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle which requires energy expenditure is known as physical activity (PA). WHO has recommended that at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity PA or a combination of both per week is required for health benefits. Physical inactivity is one of the strongest risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and other conditions and is attributable to 6% of global premature death. However, data on the PA of teachers are unavailable in Nepal. They are considered one of the risk groups for NCDs because of the less active nature of their job. So, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the educational intervention based on the theory of planned behaviour on PA intention among secondary school teachers in Bhaktapur district, Nepal. For this study, we recruited 126 teachers from 6 schools. Each intervention and control group contained three randomly selected secondary schools. All the teachers from the selected schools were enrolled in the respective groups. A quasiexperimental (pretest-posttest control group) study design was used to test the effectiveness of the intervention on attitude, behaviour control, subjective norms, and intention for engaging in regular PA. Both groups underwent baseline and follow-up assessments at four weeks using the self-administered questionnaire developed for this study. The intervention group delivered a one-hour lecture session supported by audio-video materials for PA promotion. The effect was analysed by comparing the changes in the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs within and between intervention and control groups. The difference in scores between and within the groups was tested using Student’s $t$ -test. Adjusted difference-in-difference scores were calculated through linear regression. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science version 26.0. The adjusted mean score increase in TPB constructs due to the interaction of time and intervention increased from 0.641 to 1.381. The highest gain ( $\text{beta}=1.381$ ) was seen in the intention score, while a minor improvement was seen in perceived behavioural control ( $\text{beta}=0.641$ ). After the intervention, the net increase in PA intention score was 9.35% compared to the control group. Thus, the promotion package was effective in increasing PA intention. The findings of this study and educational package could be helpful in encouraging teachers to engage in PA in other schools.

Teachers' Health: How General, Mental and Functional Health Indicators Compare to Other Employees? A Large French Population-Based Study

Teachers' health is a key factor of any successful education system, but available data are conflicting. To evaluate to what extent teachers' health could be at risk, we used pre-pandemic data from the CONSTANCES population-based French cohort (inclusion phase: 2012-2019) and compared teachers (n = 12,839) included in the cohort with a random subsample selected among all other employees (n = 32,837) on four self-reported health indicators: perceived general health, depressive symptoms (CES-D scale), functional limitations in the last six months, and persistent neck/back troubles (Nordic questionnaire). We further restricted our comparison group to the State employees (n = 3583), who share more occupational similarities with teachers. Lastly, we focused on teachers and evaluated how their health status might differ across teaching levels (primary, secondary, and higher education). As compared to non-teacher employees, and even after adjusting for important demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and occupational confounders, teachers were less likely to report bad perceived health and depressive symptoms but were more likely to present functional limitations. Trends were similar in the analyses restricted to State employees. Within the teaching population, secondary school teachers were more likely to report depressive symptoms but less frequently declared persistent neck/back troubles than primary school teachers. Our descriptive cross-sectional study based on a probability sampling procedure (secondary use of CONSTANCES inclusion data) did not support the idea that teachers' health in France was particularly at risk in the pre-pandemic period. Both cross-cultural and longitudinal studies are needed to further gain information on the topic of teachers' health around the world and to monitor its evolution over time, particularly during crises impacting the education system such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teachers' characteristics predict students' guidance for healthy lifestyle: a cross-sectional study in Arab-speaking schools

Introduction

Schools are valuable settings for implementing healthy lifestyle interventions. Teachers' health behaviors affect their health and well-being and might affect their position as role models for students. This study aimed a) to assess health behaviors, health perceptions, burnout, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment among Arab school teachers in Israel; b) to examine the relationship between these variables; and c) to explain the variance of healthy lifestyle promotion among students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was conducted among 150 teachers (mean age 39 years, 85% women) in May-June 2020.

Results

Most respondents (79%) were overweight and obese, 79% reported unhealthy nutrition and not reaching the recommended physical activity target, 47% slept >7 hours at night and 54% defined their health status as very good or excellent. Reported burnout levels were high. Organizational commitment and job satisfaction were high while students’ guidance towards a healthy lifestyle was moderate. Burnout was negatively correlated with health perception, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction. Health perception was positively correlated with organizational commitment, job satisfaction and promoting a healthy lifestyle among students. Logistic regression analysis revealed that job satisfaction, performance of PA according to the recommendations and burnout predicted 51% of the variance of healthy lifestyle promotion among students.

Conclusions

Teachers in Israeli Arab schools report unfavorable health behaviors and health perception as well as high burnout levels. The findings suggest implementing intervention programs to reduce teacher burnout and creating organizational conditions that would encourage teachers to adopt a healthy lifestyle and help them promote healthy lifestyle habits among their students.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13795-5.

Teachers' health behaviors may affect their position as role models for students.

Israeli Arab teachers had unfavorable health behaviors and high body mass index.

Burnout inversely correlated with organizational commitment and job satisfaction.

Better perceived health predicted lower burnout and higher job satisfaction.

Improved school environment could improve teachers' wellbeing and role modeling.

Is the Prevalence of Low Physical Activity among Teachers Associated with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress?

The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of stress, depression, and anxiety among Polish secondary school teachers and their association with selected psychosocial, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 116 Polish teachers in 2019, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and author questionnaire including psychosocial factors specific to the respondents’ work environment. The prevalence of moderately to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms of stress in teachers was 18.1%, 22.4%, and 51.7%, respectively. Among respondents with moderate or high physical activity level (PAL), normal or mild levels of depression (OR = 3.62; CI [1.31–10.03]), anxiety (OR = 2.61; CI [1.01–6.73]), and stress (OR = 2.79; CI [1.16–6.69]) were more common. The level of individual symptoms of mental disorders was higher than indicated by previous Polish reports. Given that teachers’ low PAL is significantly related to their moderately to extremely severe levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, we suggest running leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) enhancement programs and supporting the leadership of school management and the higher-education system in this regard.

The Effect of Ramadan and COVID-19 on the Relationship between Physical Activity and Burnout among Teachers

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of COVID-19 and Ramadan on physical activity (PA) and burnout in teachers and the relationship between them. A total of 57 secondary school teachers from public education centers participated in the present study. They were aged between 29 and 52 years. To determine the effect of Ramadan and COVID-19 on PA and burnout, participants completed the online questionnaires before COVID-19, one week before Ramadan and during the second week of Ramadan. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-BREF and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey were used to assess PA intensities and burnout, respectively. The data revealed that total PA (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively) vigorous metabolic equivalent of task (MET) (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively), moderate MET (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively) were higher before COVID-19 and before Ramadan than during Ramadan. Regarding burnout subscales, emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively) was higher before Ramadan than before COVID-19 and during Ramadan. A lower personal accomplishment was reported before Ramadan than before COVID-19 and during Ramadan (both p < 0.05). In addition, low to high correlations were observed between PA intensities and burnout subscales, except for the correlation between depersonalization and all PA intensities. In conclusion, Ramadan intermittent fasting along with PA was highly recommended for teachers and the general population to improve positive emotions and general health.

Participation in Sports Clubs during College Is an Important Factor Associated with School Counselors' Participation in Leisure Time Activities

This study explored the physical activity participation, barriers to physical activity, attitudes toward physical activity, and physical activity levels of full-time school counselors at junior high schools in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire. A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed, 137 were returned, and 130 were valid. The reliability and constructed validity of the questionnaire were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and factor analysis, respectively. The participants' International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores were estimated to assess their physical activity levels. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the effects of independent variables on the respondents' physical activity levels and attitude toward physical activity. Of the respondents surveyed, 44.6%, 36.9%, and 18.5% had low, moderate, and high levels of physical activity according to their IPAQ scores, respectively. In total, 55.4% of the school counselors met the World Health Organization criteria for physical activity. Moreover, the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that respondents with high levels of physical activity, aged ≥41, and who perceived themselves to be healthy were more likely to have participated in sports clubs during their college years. Furthermore, participation in sports clubs during college years and self-perceived health were significant predictors of attitude toward physical activity. In conclusion, participation in sports clubs during college was an important factor related to school counselors' physical activity.

Frequency of Breakfast Eating and Obesity Prevalence in Primary School Teachers

There is a lack of research using objective measures about teachers’ physical characteristics and lifestyle. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between frequency of breakfast consumption and body size, body composition, blood pressure and lifestyle factors in teachers from Hungary. The study analyzed data collected from 99 female primary school teachers (50.6 ± 6.6 year) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Anthropometric and resting blood pressure measurements were taken for each participant. Questionnaires were used to assess lifestyle factors (i.e., physical activity level, smoking status and eating breakfast). The frequency of eating breakfast was classified as rarely or never (0–2 days), some days (3–5 days) and regularly (6–7 days). Sixty-five percent of female teachers consumed breakfast 6–7 days/week, and this regular eating habit was positively associated with a lower risk of obesity (OR 0.29; CI: 0.10–0.80). In our sample, a higher frequency of breakfast consumption was not significantly associated with smoking (OR 2.65; CI: 0.17–1.37), hypertension (OR 0.61; CI: 0.23–1.65) and inactivity (OR 2.80; CI: 0.26–1.84). A beneficial effect of eating breakfast regularly was found on body composition in female teachers. Further studies should focus on the health behaviors of teachers and their relationship with physical activity or diagnosed diseases in urban and rural areas.

Association between working overtime and psychological stress reactions in elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan: a large-scale cross-sectional study

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between working overtime and psychological stress reactions among school teachers. It also evaluated the interaction of overtime work types (on weekdays, on holidays, and bringing work home) and task content (educational, peripheral and both). This cross-sectional study was conducted on Japanese elementary and junior high school teachers. Primary outcome was psychological stress reactions measured with the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire. Participants were asked how long they work overtime on weekdays, holidays, and at home. Participants were also asked whether they engaged in educational tasks and/or peripheral tasks during that overtime work. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied and 6,135 participants were included in the analyses after imputing missing data. Working hours of all three types were significantly correlated with higher psychological stress reactions. Moreover, engaging in both educational and peripheral tasks showed higher psychological stress reactions than in only educational tasks when working overtime on weekdays and holidays. In conclusion, reducing overtime work regardless of work types is crucial for mitigating psychological stress reactions for teachers. It might also be possible to manage the psychological stress reactions by splitting the role of task contents, when working overtime on weekdays and holidays at school.

Injury analysis of teachers' occupational accidents

BACKGROUND

Occupational accidents among teachers are a cause of concern because of their consequences regarding several parts of the body, such as the neck, back, or extremities; however, the number of studies on this issue is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the possible effects of different variables (gender, age, nationality, experience, sector, day of the week, traffic accidents) associated with occupational injuries suffered by teachers.

METHODS

All teachers' accidents recorded in Spain (136,702) from 2003 to 2018 were analyzed. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated.

RESULTS

For injured female workers, being younger than 45, in her first month of experience, in a public school, without risk assessment, and in a traffic accident are the most important factors related to suffering a neck injury. In the case of injured male workers, to be older than 45, in a private school, and no traffic accidents are the factors detected influence suffering an injury in lower extremities.

CONCLUSIONS

Institutions and schools should pay special attention to the highest-risk profiles. Results obtained can be a very useful tool for the design and implementation of specific occupational health and safety strategies adapted to the more vulnerable workers in each kind of injury.

Are Physical Activities Associated With Perceived Stress? The Evidence From the China Health and Nutrition Survey

Psychological stress is a negative affective state. The association between physical activity and psychological stress was commonly reported in previous researches. Few published studies with large sample sizes have explored such an association in Chinese population. The current research aims to assess the association between perceived stress and physical activity preferences, as well as the association between risk of high perceived stress and physical activity behaviors (e.g., sports-, transport-, occupational-related physical activity, sedentary activities and time in bed). The data were collected from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 2015. Generalized linear models and logistic regression models were used to explore the association between perceived stress and physical activity. In total, 11,066 participants were included in the current analysis. For physical activity preferences, we found that “like” preference of all six mentioned domains of activities contributed to lower perceived stress (i.e., lower perceived stress scale −14 score, all β < 0 and p < 0.05). For physical activity behaviors, the results indicated that none/low intensity physical activity behaviors (e.g., sports-, occupational- related, sedentary) were associated with risk of high perceived stress, except that low intensity of transport-related activities seemed to be protective from high stress. However, the association between intensity of physical activity behaviors and perceived stress was not simply the higher the better. High intensity of all these physical activity behaviors was also associated with high perceived stress. Our findings suggest that positive preferences and moderate physical activity behaviors were associated with low perceived stress. The findings herein highlight the effect of regulating physical activity on perceived stress, as well as inform potential strategies to reduce psychological stress.

Heart Health in Teachers-Do We Need to Know More?

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relationship between the prevalence and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and hypertension, physical activity, and mental health in teachers.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A series of analyses were conducted utilizing exploratory data analysis, nominal logistic regression, and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study sample included 148 participants. The results showed that an increase in age and BMI contributed to an increase in high blood pressure. Significance was not seen between physical activity, anxiety, and mental well-being as they related to cardiovascular disease and teaching.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypertension could be related to the occupation of teaching; however, additional research should be done to assess the relationship between the occupation of teaching and cardiovascular disease.

Productivity in older versus younger workers: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Worldwide ageing and thus, workforce ageing, is a concern for both developed and developing nations.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current research was to determine, through a systematic literature review, the effects of age in three dimensions that are often used to define or assess productivity at work.

METHODS

PICO framework was used to generate search strategies, inclusion criteria and terms. Scopus and PubMed databases were used. Peer-reviewed journal papers written in English and published (or in press) between January 2014 and December 2018 were included.

RESULTS

After filtering through inclusion criteria, 74 papers were included in the review. Considering productivity, 41%of the findings showed no differences between younger and older workers, 31%report better productivity of younger workers and 28%reported that older workers had better productivity than younger workers. Performance was better in older workers (58%), presenteeism generally showed no significant differences between age groups (61%). Absenteeism was the only outcome where younger workers outperformed older workers (43%).

CONCLUSION

Overall, there was no difference in productivity between older and younger workers. Older workers performed better than younger workers, but had more absenteeism, while presenteeism showed no differences. As ageing has come to workplaces, holistic approaches addressing total health are suggested to overcome the worldwide workforce ageing phenomenon.

Fit to Teach?-Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Vitamin D3, and Ferritin in Physical Education Teachers With Specialization in Dance

ABSTRACT

Schmidt, M, Ohlendorf, D, Groneberg, DA, and Wanke, EM. Fit to teach?-Cardiorespiratory capacity, vitamin D3, and ferritin in physical education teachers with specialization in dance. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 1156-1164, 2021-Numerous studies have shown that good cardiorespiratory capacity is of great importance for a healthy and long-term professional career as a dancer. Although the cardiorespiratory demands during teaching can reach into the submaximal intensity range, current data on the objective physical fitness of this occupational group are still missing. The aim of this pilot project was to determine selected cardiorespiratory parameters. In addition, measurements of the vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and iron balance as well as a subjective assessment of dance teachers' (DTs) fitness were performed. Twenty-one DTs (f: n = 18, m: n = 3) aged 48.2 ± 9.3 years were examined for cardiorespiratory performance within the framework of maximum bicycle spiroergometry. In addition, the self-perception of DTs' fitness was examined as well as the serum vit D3 levels and ferritin concentration in the blood. The cardiorespiratory fitness of DTs can be assessed as average (maximal oxygen consumption, V̇o2max = 29.5 ± 7.1 ml·k-1·min-1; physical working capacity, PWCmax = 165.0 ± 44.4). The DTs seemed to underestimate or overestimate their own capacity. Laboratory diagnostics showed that the 25(OH)D3 levels (21.8 ± 8.5 ng·ml-1) and serum ferritin values (102.4 ± 35.0 g·dl-1) were not optimal for almost the entire sample. In view of the physical occupational requirements, an increase in aerobic cardiorespiratory fitness by endurance-oriented basic training for DTs seems advisable. In addition, the substitution of vit D3 is worth being discussed.

[Job-related satisfaction and health perception of dance teachers]

Hintergrund

Der eigene Körper ist das zentrale Arbeitsinstrument eines*einer Tanzpädagog*in (TP) innerhalb der Bewegungsvermittlung. Bisher fehlen Erkenntnisse über die subjektive Wahrnehmung der eigenen berufsassoziierten Gesundheit und Zufriedenheit sowie die Identifizierung gesundheitsbelastender Berufsmerkmale.

Methodik

Im Rahmen einer fragebogenbasierten Querschnittserhebung wurde eine Kohorte von TP in Deutschland zur eigenen Gesundheit und generellen Berufszufriedenheit und belastenden Aspekten im Zusammenhang mit ihrer Berufsausübung untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden allgemeine anthropometrische und soziodemographische Merkmale erfasst. Neben der Betrachtung der Gesamtkohorte wurde auf geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede getestet. In die statistische Analyse wurden n = 232 TP (m: 51/w: 181) im Alter von 43,1 ± 11,0 Jahren eingeschlossen.

Ergebnisse

Der allgemeine Gesundheitszustand wurde von 85,3 % der Befragten mit „befriedigend“ (26,1 %) bis „sehr gut“ (14,7 %) beurteilt. 59,2 % der Tanzpädagog*innen schätzten ihre Gesundheit „gut“ (35,3 %) bis „sehr gut“ ein. Es herrschte eine hohe Zufriedenheit mit der eigenen Berufsausübung für 80 % der Teilnehmenden. Die TP fühlten sich überwiegend in der Lage (trifft „voll & ganz“ bzw. „eher zu“), mit den physischen (75,7 %) und psychischen Berufsanforderungen (70,3 %) umzugehen. Als belastende Berufsmerkmale in der Eigenwahrnehmung können neben Zukunftsängsten (51,5 %) vor allem arbeitsorganisatorische (fehlende Zeit für Familie und Freunde bei 28,4 %) und ökonomische Aspekte (Einkommensunsicherheit bei 61,0 % und fehlende Altersabsicherung bei 65,7 %) herausgestellt werden.

Diskussion

Die Berufsausübung als TP geht mit einer hohen generellen Zufriedenheit und einem positiven Empfinden des eigenen Gesundheitszustandes einher. Eine Bestätigung dieser positiven Ergebnisse durch Verletzungs- und Erkrankungsstatistiken steht noch aus. Darüber hinaus wäre eine Verbesserung arbeitsorganisatorischer und ökonomischer Aspekte wünschenswert.

Impact of physical activity, diet quality and stress on cardiometabolic health in school employees

Among school employees, it has been reported that poor physical and mental health, as well as high stress and large workloads, have resulted in high absenteeism and low retention. The consequences of unhealthy behaviors and stress can extend to students, impacting academic achievement and school costs. Our objective was to examine the impact of school employees' physical activity (PA), diet quality and perceived occupational stress on cardiometabolic health, and explore how stress may influence the impact of PA and diet on health. In this cross-sectional study, employees from lower-income Massachusetts schools participated in Wellness Assessments (2015-2016), including measured height, weight, and lipids [total (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C)]. Self-administered surveys were used to collect demographic, stress, PA and 24-hour food intake data. Linear regression models were used to examine the relationship among health behaviors (PA and diet), stress and cardiometabolic health. An interaction between stress and health behaviors was also explored. Seventy-four employees (66% teachers) participated. Overweight/obesity (mean BMI: 25.6 kg/m2), high TC and LDL-C were observed in 47%, 4%, and 34%, respectively, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was low (median: 17 min/day). Positive associations were identified between MVPA and cardiometabolic health, but not diet. The effect of MVPA on BMI was modified by stress (p-for-interaction = 0.001), with higher levels of stress associated with a diminished protective association between MVPA and BMI. Higher levels of PA were associated with more favorable cardiometabolic health, with increasing levels of stress minimizing the beneficial effect of PA on BMI.

Teacher's Physical Activity and Mental Health During Lockdown Due to the COVID-2019 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led teachers to an unpredictable scenario where the lockdown situation has accelerated the shift from traditional to online educational methods, and relationships have been altered by the avoidance of direct contact with the others, with implications for their mental health. Physical activity seemed to be a factor that could prevent mental disorders such as anxiety or depression in this peculiar situation. Therefore, the aims of this study were to explore how teachers have been affected by the lockdown with respect to their mental health and their relationships in three main fields: work, family, and social relationships, and to know which is the role of physical activity in the mentioned variables. For that purpose, an online survey was designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Results showed that indoor physical activity acts as preventive in lockdown situations, whereas the level of activity does not affect mental health. Also, teachers have experienced higher levels of distress due to the workload generated during the lockdown. In conclusion, to prevent health problems among teachers in future similar situations, it would be important to facilitate the practice of physical activity at home. Furthermore, teacher training in blended or online educational methods would be crucial for their favorable work development.

Predictors of health-related absenteeism, presenteeism and sick leave among brazilian elementary school teachers: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The health risks that usually affect teachers are already known; however, the predictors of health related absenteeism, presenteeism, and sick leave have not yet been fully described.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the predictors of health-related absenteeism, presenteeism, and sick leave among elementary school teachers.

METHODS

This study involved a probabilistic sample of 519 Brazilian elementary school teachers. The outcomes were days of health-related absenteeism, presenteeism, and sick leave in the previous 12 months. Work-place and individual factors were the independent variables analyzed.

RESULTS

Inadequate infrastructure of schools, disability, and medical consultations were positively associated with all outcomes. Teachers who reported having a chronic disease, common mental disorders, and voice disorders presented higher absenteeism and presenteeism days. Musculoskeletal pain and low job support were associated with higher presenteeism and sick leave days. Teachers who performed strength and flexibility activities presented less presenteeism, those who reported physical violence at school were more frequently absent, and teachers with depersonalization presented a higher likelihood of sick leave.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevention of health-related absenteeism, presenteeism, and sick leave among elementary teachers should ensure adequate work conditions and prevention and monitoring of health risks.

Physical activity and blood gene expression profiles: the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) Post-genome cohort

Objectives

The influence of physical activity (PA) on the immune system has emerged as a new field of research. Regular PA may promote an anti-inflammatory state in the body, thus contributing to the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory processes related to the onset and progression of multiple diseases. We aimed to assess whether overall PA levels were associated with differences in blood gene expression profiles, in a cohort of middle-aged Norwegian women. We used information from 977 women included in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) Post-genome cohort. Information on PA and covariates was extracted from the NOWAC database. Blood samples were collected using the PAXgene Blood RNA collection system, and gene expression profiles were measured using Illumina microarrays. The R-package limma was used for the single-gene level analysis. For a target gene set analysis, we used the global test R-package with 48 gene sets, manually curated from the literature and relevant molecular databases.

Results

We found no associations between overall PA levels and gene expression profiles at the single-gene level. Similarly, no gene sets reached statistical significance at adjusted p < 0.05. In our analysis of healthy, middle-aged Norwegian women, self-reported overall PA was not associated with differences in blood gene expression profiles.

Stress in Physical Education Teachers: A Systematic Review of Sources, Consequences, and Moderators of Stress

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify sources of stress, consequences of chronic stress and moderators of stress in physical education teachers and to formulate implications for future research and teacher education. Methods: The initial search identified 2483 publications, including 47 that met the inclusion criteria. Results: The most important sources of stress in physical education teachers were the curriculum, inadequate facilities/equipment, the low status of PE and students´ discipline problems. Regarding the consequences of chronic stress, the majority of studies assessed burnout and reported low to moderate levels of burnout in general. However, of the studies that reported percentages, 20-25% of physical education teachers indicated high levels of burnout. Conclusions: Regarding the relationship between sources of stress and consequences of chronic stress in physical education teachers, future studies should (a) take into account the whole stress process (b) use more adequate measures for stress and (c) address potential moderators of stress. In terms of practical implications, PE teachers should receive an adequate pre- and in-service training that aims at being aware of the main sources of stress in PE teachers and building up adequate coping strategies. In addition, PE teacher education should consider interventions to prevent health consequences of stress such as voice disorders.

Work related cardiovascular load in professional dance teachers - a pilot study

Objective

There have been only a limited number of studies available on the physical requirements in dance teachers (DT), who are responsible for the training of recreational and/or professional dancers and/or dance students. First results provide indications that a consideration of physical work load (teaching load) of this occupational group is necessary.

Methods

HR measurements were done on a total of 21 DT (f: n = 18, m: n = 3) aged 48.2 ± 9.3 years during their lessons in three dance styles: ballet (B), jazz/modern dance (J/MD) and pre-school dance (CD). The HR data were objectified using the spiroergometrically measured maximum HR (HRmax). In addition, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was asked directly after the lesson using the Borg scale together with an additional questionnaire.

Results

Depending on the dance style, the average HR load during the lessons ranged between 56.7% ± 7.4%) (B) and 63.6% ± 9.8% (CD) of the individual HRmax. No significant differences could be found between the dance styles for the minimum, medium and maximum teaching loads. The DTs rated the average RPE of the teaching units according to BORG (11.4 ± 2.1). Correlations between the RPE and the mean and maximum cardiovascular loads (r = 0.376, p = 0.037 and r = 0.441, p = 0.013) could be shown for all dance units and for the mean loads in J/MD (r = 0.558, p = 0.044).

Conclusion

Most dance units do not represent a load in the sense of a endurance training unit. An increase in aerobic fitness and possible positive effects in the context of injury prevention is not to be expected. In J/MD, the use of RPEs for the rough estimation of cardiovascular stress is conceivable. The assessment of cardiovascular load in dance lessons requires further investigations for more precise assessments.

Dose-response relationship of active commuting to work: Results of the GISMO study

The positive health benefits of regular exercise, particularly regarding cardiovascular risk and diseases, are well recognized and scientifically evident. However, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors that are still insufficiently addressed. Leisure-time active commuting like walking and biking is an ideal way to improve exercise behavior in the general population. The purpose of this substudy of the GISMO study was to assess dose-response relations in all commuters and the three subgroups of commuters (physically active by bicycle and/or walking, physically active by using public transportation (PT), and the controls using their own vehicles). As such, a positive dose-response relationship could be confirmed in all physically active commuters compared to the control group. Whether the commuters cycled, walked, or traveled by PT -the more the physical exercise they performed (measured in metabolic equivalent [MET]-hours), the larger their gain in physical fitness (measured in gained or "Delta" Watt during a maximal exercise test), and their physical fitness at the end of the study was P = .016 and P = .003, respectively. Health-related quality of life correlated in two out of eight subdomains of the SF-36 questionnaire with MET-hours achieved during the study period (General Health and Physical Functioning). No clearly significant dose-response could be observed regarding HDL(high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol or body composition. Our results indicate a dose-response pattern of healthy commuting in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life to increase doses of physically active commuting.

Association Between Chronic Health Conditions and Quality of Life in Rural Teachers

Aim

The school teacher profession has been reported to be associated with an increased rate of health problems that can affect the quality of life (QoL) of teachers. However, there is little information about rural teachers.

Objective

To investigate the associations of obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertension with the perception of QoL in rural teachers.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of teachers from eight rural schools in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Obesity was evaluated by the percentages of fat mass (% FM) and abdominal obesity, and hypertension was recorded. The Short Form-36 Health Survey was administered to subjects to evaluate QoL. A logistic regression adjusted for age and gender was used to associate QoL with chronic health conditions.

Results

Eighty-five percent of teachers presented abdominal obesity, 56% presented obesity evaluated by % FM and 33% presented hypertension. Thirty percent of teachers in the ≥45-year-old age group presented all three chronic conditions simultaneously. Teachers presenting abdominal obesity in the ≤44-year-old age group had lower scores in the mental health component (MCS) (p < 0.05) of the survey than the teachers in the ≥45-year-old age group. In addition, teachers in the ≤44-year-old age group who presented obesity scored lower in the MCS than those in the same age group without obesity (p = 0.004). The occurrence simultaneous of two and three chronic health conditions increased the risk of reduced MCS significantly (p = 0.015, OR 17.0, 95% CI: 1.741–165.90 and p = 0.003, OR 82.6, 95% CI: 4.58–1490.70, respectively). In addition, ages under 45 years old were associated with low score of MCS (OR 8.8, 95% CI: 1.565–49.698).

Conclusion

A combination of chronic conditions affects the mental health (MH) of rural teachers. Although the association does not imply causation, these findings support the notion that teachers present early MH problems. This suggests that resources must be made available to detect early mental and chronic health conditions of rural teachers.

Health and Work Environment among Female and Male Swedish Elementary School Teachers-A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objectives: Changes in teachers’ work situation in Sweden since the 1990s may have contributed to an increase in common mental disorders (CMDs) and burnout. However, there is a lack of research in this field. The aim was to describe how Swedish elementary school teachers experience their health, organizational and social work environment, and the psychosocial safety climate at the workplace, and especially differences and similarities between female and male teachers. Materials and methods: Data were collected with the COPSOQ, OLBI, UWES and PSC-12 from 478 elementary teachers, 81.0% of them women, from twenty schools. The response rate was 96.4%. Results: Teachers reported relatively good general health but experienced high stress, high work pace and emotional demands, low influence at work and a poor psychosocial safety climate. These factors were especially prominent among female teachers. Both women and men experienced good development possibilities and high work engagement. Conclusions: The results of this study can help us to develop a more sustainable work environment for female and male teachers. A more sustainable work environment might attract more people to the profession and incentivize existing teachers to remain in the profession.

Work Ability of the Turkish Physical Education Teachers

Purpose: Work ability of physical education teachers (PETs) is important to promote physical activity and effective teaching process. However, there was a limited study. In this study, work ability of the Turkish PETs was investigated. Method: The mixed methods were used. The study group consisted of 407 (M_age = 36.52 ± 6.9) PETs. "The Work Ability Questionnaire" was used as a data collection tool. Descriptive statistic, independent sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple regression analysis, and chi-square were used in the analysis of qualitative data, and content analysis was used in the analysis of quantitative data. Result: The PETs were satisfied with their current job, and while there was a significant difference according to the gender (p < .05), a significant difference was not detected according to the age (p > .05). Furthermore, the PETs had a high work ability; when the comparison according to the gender and age significant differences was found (p < .05). Also, it was found that job satisfaction predicted physical fitness, work ability, work motivation, and work atmosphere of the PETs (R² = .463, F = 30.945, p < .05). Some of the PETs had a physical disease affecting their work abilities, and most of the PETs had musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases. In the comparison, according to gender, a significant difference was not found in terms of injury or disease (p > .05). Moreover, health problems were seen as the main problems which will threaten for the future work abilities. Conclusion: Higher work ability was associated with positive outcomes and higher job satisfaction. The healthy PETs had more work abilities.

Systematic review on the prevalence of illness and stress and their associated risk factors among educators in Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence of physical (illness) and mental (stress) health problems, there appears to be a lack of studies or concern regarding occupational safety and health among educators in Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE

To review the prevalence of illness, stress, and corresponding risk factors among educators in Malaysia.

METHOD

Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, CAB, and other computerized databases were searched according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies published between January 2013 and April 2019 on the prevalence and associated risk factors of illness and stress among educators (S1 Checklist). The keywords used included educator, teacher, lecturer, academic staff, teaching profession, university staff, academician, faculty, illness, injury, disease, pain, WMSD, dysphonia, hoarseness, stress, mental health, strain, health problem, disorder, and/or Malaysia. Selected studies were evaluated by quality assessment.

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The prevalence of illness and stress was determined for low back pain (33.3-72.9%); upper back pain (33.33-56.4%); neck/shoulder pain (40.4-80.1%); upper arm discomfort (91.3%); forearm pain (89.6%); wrist pain (16.7-93.2%); hip pain (13.2-40.9%); thigh discomfort (91.8%); lower leg discomfort (90.5%); knee pain (23.7-88.0%); ankle/feet pain (19.3-87.7%); elbow pain (3.5-13.0%); voice disorder (10.4-13.0%) and stress (5.5-25.9%). Sex, education level, teaching experience, quality of life, anxiety, depression, coping styles, and others were reported as associated risk factors across the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears to be a cause for concern regarding musculoskeletal disorders, voice disorder, and stress reported among educators in Malaysia. While most risk factors matched those reported in studies elsewhere, others such as school characteristics (school level, government or private school, and location [rural/urban]) have not been investigated.

Burden of shoulder and/neck pain among school teachers in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Shoulder and neck pain are reported as the most common occupational-related health problem and cause of morbidity, absenteeism from work among school teachers worldwide. School teachers represent an occupational group, who are exposed and appears to have prevalent shoulder and/or neck pain due to their daily work tasks and the nature of work. There is a scant epidemiological study regarding shoulder and neck pain among school teachers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was set out to assess the prevalence and associated factors of shoulder and/or neck pain among school teachers of Gondar town in North West Ethiopia.

METHOD

An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to January 2017, a structured questionnaire adapted from the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was distributed to 848 primary and secondary school teachers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. To assess the burden of shoulder and/neck pain, data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and physical measures like height and weight were also measured during data collection. Independent variables which had significant association were identified using logistic regression model.

RESULT

A total of 754 teachers participated, with a mean age of 42 ± 9.73 years (88.9% response rate). Previous 12 months self-reported prevalence of shoulder and/ neck pain among school teachers was 57.3% with 95%CI (53.4-61.0%). Regular physical exercise (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08-0.42), teaching experience (OR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.09-7.42), static head down posture (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.55-3.33), elevated arm over shoulder (OR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.86-3.95), prolonged sitting (OR = 1.50,95% CI: 1.02-2.23) and hypertension (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.24-3.82) were factors found to be significantly associated with shoulder and/neck pain.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

More than half of the study participants self-reported to have suffered shoulder and neck pain in the previous 12 months. Teaching experience, static head down posture, elevated arm over shoulder, and hypertension are likely to be significantly associated with shoulder and/ neck pain among school teachers in Ethiopia. Engaging in regular physical exercise has a protective effect against the shoulder and/or neck pain. Therefore, school authorities are recommended to provide facilities to enhance physical activity among school teachers and also provide adjustable board and classroom materials.

Dose-response relation of self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity to perceived health in middle age-the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study

Background

Regular physical activity (PA) promotes health and decreases mortality. The positive relationship between PA and perceived health (PH) is well known. However, previous research in the field has often used self-reported PA measures. The aim of this population-based NFBC1966 birth cohort study was to assess the relationship between both self-reported and objectively measured PA and PH in midlife.

Methods

A sample group of 6384 participants (2878 men, 3506 women, response rate 62%) aged 46 completed a questionnaire on PH and health behaviors, including items on weekly leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and daily sitting time (ST). PH was dichotomized as good (very good or good) and other (fair, poor, or very poor). PA was measured with a wrist-worn Polar Active (Polar Electro, Finland) accelerometer for 14 days (n = 5481, 98%) and expressed as daily average time spent in moderate to vigorous intensity PA (MVPA). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for good PH were calculated using binary logistic regression and adjusted for relevant demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, and ST.

Results

The level of PA was positively associated with PH after adjustments with covariates and ST. There was a dose-response relationship across the PA quartiles according to the adjusted multivariable models. Self-reported LTPA was more strongly associated with good PH (OR from 1.72 to 4.33 compared to lowest PA quartile) than objectively measured PA (OR from 1.37 to 1.66 compared to lowest PA quartile).

Conclusions

In this large population-based birth cohort study, we for the first time show a positive dose-response relationship of both self-reported and objectively measured PA to PH, the relationship being stronger for self-reported LTPA. Despite the cross-sectional design of this study, the results from this large sample suggest that both self-reported and objectively measured physical activity are strongly associated with PH, which is a predictor of morbidity and mortality, and regular PA should be encouraged in midlife.

Leisure-time physical inactivity and psychological distress in female-dominated occupations in Lithuania

Poor mental health, manifesting as psychological distress, has become a leading problem recently; therefore, determining associated factors is important, especially in female-dominated occupations, as women are more prone to psychological distress than men, in part due to demands of both professional and domestic tasks. The objective of the present study was to investigate associations between leisure-time physical inactivity and psychological distress, accounting for the possible relation of psychosocial factors at work (job demands, job control, social support at work, workplace bullying) and life events in representative samples of family physicians, internal medicine department nurses and secondary-school teachers in Lithuania. In total, 323 family physicians, 748 internal medicine department nurses and 517 secondary-school teachers were interviewed during 2012-2014 in Lithuania. Godin leisure-time exercise, Goldberg General Health, Job content, and Negative acts questionnaires were administered. Logistic regression was used. A high proportion of family physicians, nurses and teachers were physically inactive during leisure. Leisure-time physical inactivity was strongly associated with psychological distress, adjusting for age, workplace bullying, job demands, job control, social support at work and traumatic life events in all three female-dominated occupations. Efforts to increase leisure-time physical activity level in medical occupations could be beneficial.