Vangelova Katya, Dimitrova Irina, Tzenova Bistra
National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Sofia, Bulgaria (Department "Health at Work").
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2018 Oct 23;31(5):593-602. doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01132. Epub 2018 Jun 8.
The work ability of aging teachers is of special interest because of high risk of stress. The aim of the study was to follow the work ability of aging teachers and compare it with that of aging non-teacher professionals.
The study included 424 teachers of age ≤ 44 years old (N = 140) and ≥ 45 years old (N = 284), with about 10% male teachers in both age groups, matched by sex and age with non-teacher professionals. Work ability was assessed by means of the Work Ability Index (WAI). Chi tests and regression analyses were used for studying WAI scales ratings, diagnosed by physician diseases and WAI ratings.
Our data shows comparatively high work ability for both age groups of teachers but WAI of aging teachers was significantly lower in comparison to their younger colleagues as well as aging non-teacher professionals. About 80% of aging groups reported diseases diagnosed by physicians. Cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases were the most frequently reported by aging teachers, while teachers ≤ 44 years old reported respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and sensory diseases. With aging significantly higher rates of arterial hypertension, diabetes, injury to hearing and mental disorders were reported by teachers as compared to aging non-teacher professionals. The rates of reported repeated infections of respiratory tracts were high in both age groups of teachers, especially in the group of aging teachers. The estimated work ability impairment due to the disease showed the significant effect of aging for teachers as well as the significant difference when comparing aging teachers and non-teacher professionals.
Our data shows high work ability for both age groups of teachers but significantly lower for aging teachers accompanied with higher rates of psychosomatic diseases, including hearing impairment and respiratory diseases. Preservation of teacher health could contribute to maintenance of their work ability and retention in the labor market. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):593-602.
由于压力风险高，老年教师的工作能力备受关注。本研究旨在追踪老年教师的工作能力，并将其与老年非教师职业人员的工作能力进行比较。
本研究纳入了424名年龄≤44岁（N = 140）和≥45岁（N = 284）的教师，两个年龄组中男性教师约占10%，并按性别和年龄与非教师职业人员进行匹配。通过工作能力指数（WAI）评估工作能力。采用卡方检验和回归分析来研究WAI量表评分、医生诊断的疾病以及WAI评分。
我们的数据显示，两个年龄组的教师工作能力相对较高，但与年轻同事以及老年非教师职业人员相比，老年教师的WAI显著较低。约80%的老年组报告了医生诊断的疾病。心血管疾病、肌肉骨骼疾病和呼吸系统疾病是老年教师报告最多的疾病，而44岁及以下的教师报告的是呼吸系统疾病、心血管疾病、神经系统疾病和感觉系统疾病。与老年非教师职业人员相比，随着年龄增长，教师报告的动脉高血压、糖尿病、听力损伤和精神障碍的发生率显著更高。两个年龄组的教师报告的呼吸道反复感染率都很高，尤其是老年教师组。因疾病导致的工作能力受损估计显示，年龄增长对教师有显著影响，并且在比较老年教师和非教师职业人员时存在显著差异。
我们的数据显示，两个年龄组的教师工作能力都较高，但老年教师的工作能力显著较低，同时身心疾病发生率较高，包括听力损伤和呼吸系统疾病。保持教师健康有助于维持他们的工作能力并留在劳动力市场。《国际职业医学与环境卫生杂志》2018年；31(5):593 - 602。
