The Association between Occupational Stress and Mental Health among Chinese Soccer Referees in the Early Stage of Reopening Soccer Matches during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: A Moderated Mediation Model

Occupational well-being in medical workers in Inner Mongolia after the Normalized Epidemic Prevention and Control Strategy: A cross-sectional study

Little is known about the status of occupational well-being among the Chinese medical workers after the implementation of Normalized Epidemic Prevention and Control strategy as most studies are performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to investigate the occupational well-being among the medical workers in our city in the COVID-19 after the release of Normalized Epidemic Prevention and Control Strategy since May 7, 2020 in mainland China. We included the medical workers involved in the front-line of COVID-19 that were randomly selected from 7 hospitals in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The occupational well-being among medical workers was evaluated using the modified occupational well-being scales and the symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) scale. Then Logistic regression analysis was given to identify the risk factors that may affect the occupational well-being among the medical workers. Our data showed that hospital type (p < 0.01), hospital grade (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.01) and monthly income (p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the occupational well-being among the medical workers. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatization, phobic anxiety, depression and interpersonal sensitivity were risk factors for poor occupational well-being. Therefore, attention should be given to the occupational well-being of the medical workers. Meanwhile, appropriate measurements are necessary to improve their working quality.

Mental Health in First- and Second-Division Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The benefits of sport in mental health have been broadly studied. However, few studies have examined these outcomes in high-performance athletes. We aimed to analyze the state of the mental health of the Villarreal Soccer Club's first- (FD) and second-division (SD) players and the possible mediating effects of sex and professional category.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study with an initial sample of 108 soccer players (final sample n = 54). Data from MINI, HARS, HDRS, BARRAT-11 and SCSRQ questionnaires were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 23.41 years (SD = 4.56) and 61.1% (n = 33) were men. A proportion of 24.1% (n = 13) stated that they had undergone mental health treatment, 7.4% (n = 4) had taken psychotropic drugs, and 2.1% (n = 1) had made a suicide attempt. Differences were observed between the FD and SD players in terms of the sensitivity to punishment (t = -2.2; p = 0.033), overall impulsivity (t = -3.1; p = 0.003), unplanned impulsivity (t = 3.4; p = 0.001), and the HDRS (U = -110.5; p = 0.004), HARS-Total (U = -104.0; p = 0.006) and HARS-Psychological subscale scores (U = -104.0; p = 0.001). Differences were also observed between the female and male SD players for the HARS-Somatic subscale (U = 136.5; p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

The low values obtained in the clinical scales, together with the reported psychopathological histories, suggested that the Villareal players showed better mental health than the general population.

Testing a chain mediation model of effort-reward imbalance, Confucian values, job satisfaction, and intention to quit among Chinese vocational education teachers

Context

This research delves into the significant impact of Confucian Values on the societal fabric of China, particularly in the realm of vocational education. In this setting, these principles are instrumental in guiding both educators and students. The study employs the Culture-Value Structure (CVS) model to dissect the intricate dynamics between Confucian Values, the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), educators' job satisfaction, and their inclination toward leaving the profession. Teachers in vocational education, who are often regarded as moral guides, play a pivotal role in the ethical and social upbringing of students. Adopting Confucian values not only promotes academic success but also nurtures all-round development, equipping students for conscientious societal roles. In the backdrop of Confucian influence, these educators face substantial stressors in the workplace due to varied demands. The ERI model, proposed by Siegrist, serves as a tool to comprehend the stress experienced when there is a disproportion between efforts and rewards. This study delves into how ERI correlates with job satisfaction among vocational education teachers, with a focus on the modifying effect of Confucian values. Additionally, it examines the potential role of job satisfaction in mediating the relationship between ERI and the tendency to consider leaving the job. The research illuminates the complex interrelation of cultural values, occupational stress, job contentment, and career decision-making in the context of vocational education in China.

Methodology

The research involved a group of 332 Vocational education teachers from diverse Chinese institutions. Through thorough statistical analysis, the study validated the model's effectiveness, notably indicating a substantial direct impact of ERI on the Intention to Quit.

Findings

The investigation pinpointed Factors I (Integrity), II (Confucian Ethos), and IV (Moderation) as key determinants of job satisfaction. Notably, an increase in job satisfaction was found to inversely relate to the likelihood of leaving the profession, implying it could lessen the propensity to resign. The research applied a Chain Mediation Model to elucidate the influence of ERI on the decision to quit, mediated by various factors. The findings highlight the complex interaction of elements influencing teachers' decisions to leave, showcasing the utility of sophisticated statistical methodologies in decoding complex social dynamics.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of life of Chinese football referees: the chain mediating role of occupational stress and job burnout

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 lockdown measures have had a great negative impact on the development of sports competition in China, as well as on the quality of life of football referees. This study aims to explore the impact of lockdown measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of football referees in China and its mechanism of action.

METHODS

The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale (ERI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). The scale was used from August to September 2022. Using an online questionnaire, 350 questionnaires were sent out and 338 were returned, for a return rate of 96.57%. Invalid questionnaires were excluded, and 307 football referees with referee grades in 29 provinces registered with the CFA were surveyed. SPSS 24.0 and Mplus 8.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation model testing in this study.

RESULTS

The results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had no significant impact on the quality of life of Chinese football referees. However, the COVID-19 lockdown can affect the quality of life of Chinese football referees through occupational stress or job burnout. Occupational stress and job burnout also play a chain intermediary role between the COVID-19 lockdown and the quality of life of Chinese football referees. In addition, this study further explores the quality of life by dividing it into four dimensions (physical, social, psychological, and environmental). The results show that all four dimensions satisfy the chain mediation model.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, the quality of life of Chinese football referees can be improved by reducing their occupational stress and job burnout during the COVID-19 lockdown.