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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01.08.2013 | Original Article

The psychosocial work environment and mental health of teachers: a comparative study between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong

verfasst von: Jessica Janice Tang, Stavroula Leka, Sara MacLennan

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 6/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

There is limited research on teachers’ psychosocial work environment and mental health, and most has been conducted in predominantly Western countries that share a number of important common characteristics that distinguish them from countries in many other regions of the world. Within the framework of the effort–reward imbalance (ERI) theoretical model, the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and mental health of teachers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Hong Kong (HK) was investigated.

Methods

Full-time qualified teachers from both the UK and HK (N = 259) participated in the research. They were asked to fill in a set of questionnaires that measured their perceived stress, mental health, psychosocial work environment and demographic information.

Results

Perceived stress was found to predict teachers’ mental health. Overcommitment, the intrinsic component of the ERI model, predicted mental health among HK teachers. There were significant differences in the psychosocial variables between UK and HK teachers.

Conclusion

The results showed support for the ERI model and in particular for the relationship between stress and mental health and demonstrated the role of overcommitment in the teaching profession. Some implications are discussed for combating cultural differences in managing the psychosocial work environment of teachers.

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Titel: The psychosocial work environment and mental health of teachers: a comparative study between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong
verfasst von: Jessica Janice Tang
Stavroula Leka
Sara MacLennan
Publikationsdatum: 01.08.2013
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 6/2013
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0799-8

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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