Impact of Work Schedule Characteristics on Teacher Mental Health and Burnout Symptoms While Remote Working

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cavallari JM ; Charamut NR ; Dugan AG ; Garza JL ; Laguerre RA ; Perry SD ; Sanetti LMH ; Szarka C
• Description:
  Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers quickly shifted to remote teaching with many teachers experiencing increased work demands with limited resources, affecting both mental health and work. Methods: Within a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the relationship between one type of work demand, non-standard work schedule characteristics, and depressive and burnout symptoms in kindergarten through 8th grade U.S. teachers working remotely in May 2020. We further assessed the impact of COVID-19 and work resources. Work schedule characteristics were self-assessed across six domains on a 5-point frequency scale from always (1) to never (5). We used multilevel Poisson models to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: In fully adjusted models, frequently working unexpectedly was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.07-1.31, p < 0.01), high emotional exhaustion (PR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.05-1.30, p < 0.01), and high depersonalization (PR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.02-1.92, p = 0.03). Remote work resources were significantly associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.79-0.98, p = 0.02). There was a linear association between low coworker support and a low sense of personal accomplishment (PR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53-0.87, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Frequently having to work unexpectedly while remote teaching was associated with symptoms of depression and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workplaces should support predictable working times to lessen the disruption caused by unexpected work to promote worker well-being. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Education Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Educators COVID-19 Cross Sectional Studies Mental Health Remote Work Teaching Work-life Balance Work Demands Work Organization Work Schedule Work Schedules

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; New Jersey ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  66
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068220
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2023 Oct; 66(10):884-896
• Contact Point Address:
  Jennifer M. Cavallari, ScD, CIH, Department of Public Health Sciences, UConn School of Medicine, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6325, Farmington, CT 06030-6325
• Email:
  cavallari@uchc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20260831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4b800dfab856ff1c85b1a3b58fc07146ed9d6d2d07ae30f0650aacaa33faa99ff0368884b6b586410ad07ca9c3f5c3ccc12ceca4278823d470be2b540c7f66a9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230423/cdc_230423_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 767.50 KB ]