Affiliations: Institute of Teachers’ Health at the Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Till F. Beutel, Institute of Teachers’ Health at the Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Kupferbergterrasse 17-19, 55116 Mainz, Germany. Tel.: +49 0 6131 88 448 72; Fax: +49 0 6131 88 448 70; E-mail: till.beutel@unimedizin-mainz.de.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:Early retirement caused by invalidity is a major topic of research on teacher’s health. The identification of influencing factors is important to implement appropriate prevention strategies. This study analyzes influencing factors on the subjective prognosis of long-term vocational disability in German teaching staff. METHODS:In this cross-sectional study we analyzed medical records of N = 515 teachers and educational staff who had attended an occupational medical/psychological consultation between 2011 and 2016. The majority were women (73.0% ; n = 375), the mean age was 49.6 (SD = 9.1) years. We used a comprehensive set of measures: work-related demands (Wuerzburg Screening) to identify occupational problems, vocational disability (SPE) and depression/anxiety (PHQ-9, GAD-7). RESULTS:Subjective prognosis of long-term vocational disability was significantly related to age, years of service, several work related strains as well as mental health symptoms. Significant predictors in a multiple logistic regression model were age (OR: 1.06), ‘limited vocational capability‘ (OR: 1.65) and ‘being loaded by work‘ (OR: 1.56). CONCLUSION:Professionals who are concerned with occupational health management should consider those factors in order to prevent or delay early retirement. Persons who are at high risk for early retirement should receive specific trainings or brief psychotherapeutic interventions.
Keywords: Education sector, work load, mental health, early retirement
