PREVALENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND DEPRESSION AMONG SCHOOL TEACHERS

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching has been listed among the highest stressful jobs. Several occupational stressors were detected in the school environment such as class size, work overload, student bad behavior and a lack of their appreciation Aim of Work: To determine the prevalence of occupational stress and depression symptoms among school teachers and the relation between them, to identify the different occupational stressors in the school environment, to detect the prevalence of physical symptoms and their relationship to occupational stress and depression symptoms. Materials and Methods: Socio-demographic data, occupational and medical histories of many physical symptoms were collected by researchers and self administered Arabic version of Occupational Stress Index (OSI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaires were used to assess the prevalence of occupational stress and depression symptoms respectively. Results: All teachers were complaining of stress; mainly of moderate level (55.7%), while the prevalence of depression symptoms was (19.8%). Role overload, role conflict, unreasonable group and political pressures were the most occupational stressors found among the studied population. As regards private school teachers, responsibility for persons was the most significant stressor while powerlessness, poor peer relationship, intrinsic impoverishment and low status were significant stressors among governmental school teachers. Positive correlations were found between these occupational stressors and depression symptoms. Many physical symptoms were significantly prevalent among teachers with higher scores of OSI and BDI. Conclusion: Teachers had a high prevalence of occupational stress due to exposure to many occupational stressors. Depression and stress related physical symptoms were