Orot Israel College of Education, Rehovot, Israel.
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheeba, Israel.
Pain Res Manag. 2020 Oct 23;2020:3864571. doi: 10.1155/2020/3864571. eCollection 2020.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a chronic widespread pain disorder, has been associated with various models of stress, including those that are workplace-related. In a previous study, we have documented the significantly increased prevalence of FMS among schoolteachers, as well as correlating symptoms with stressful workplace-related factors. In the current study, we have focused on the specific population of kindergarten teachers and attempted to document both the prevalence of FMS symptoms among this group and the association with stress and symptoms of posttrauma.
All participants in the study were working as kindergarten teachers in Israel at the time of the study. Participants responded to a questionnaire documenting FMS symptom, which included the widespread pain index (WPI) and symptom severity scale (SSS), which together constitute the suggested American College of Rheumatology (ACR) FMS diagnostic criteria. Additional items on the questionnaire documented work motivation and performance, the occurrence of workplace-related stressful events, and the presence of posttraumatic symptoms.
242 participants were recruited to the current study, including 239 (98.8%) females and 3 (1.2%) males. 62 individuals (25.6%) were found to fulfill ACR FMS criteria. Significant differences in work performance were found between teachers fulfilling FMS criteria compared with those not fulfilling criteria. Thus, FMS-positive teachers reported significantly higher rates of missing workdays, leaving work early, and a lower quality of interaction with children in the kindergarten and with peers and supervisors. Motivation to work was also significantly lower among these individuals. The widespread pain index (WPI) and symptom severity scale (SSS), which together constitute the components of the FMS diagnostic criteria, were positively correlated with both stress and posttraumatic symptoms. In addition, widespread pain, disordered sleep, difficulty with concentration, and other FMS symptoms were strongly correlated with many specific stressful factors at the workplace, including the number of children in the kindergarten, interaction with parents, lack of optimal physical conditions in the classrooms, and various demands on behalf of the educational system.
FMS symptoms were found to be highly prevalent among Israeli kindergarten teachers, at a rate that greatly exceeds the prevalence in the general Israeli population. Stressful work-related events appear to be positively associated with the occurrence of FMS symptoms and may serve as triggers for their development. Healthcare professionals treating individuals engaged in this occupation should be vigilant for the occurrence of symptoms that are clinically associated with FMS and overlapping functional disorders.
纤维肌痛综合征（FMS）是一种慢性广泛疼痛障碍，与各种应激模型有关，包括与工作场所相关的应激模型。在之前的研究中，我们已经记录到学校教师中 FMS 的患病率显著增加，并且相关症状与与工作场所相关的应激因素有关。在当前的研究中，我们专注于幼儿园教师这一特定人群，并试图记录该人群中 FMS 症状的患病率，以及与应激和创伤后症状的相关性。
所有参与研究的参与者当时都在以色列担任幼儿园教师。参与者回答了一份问卷，记录 FMS 症状，其中包括广泛疼痛指数（WPI）和症状严重程度量表（SSS），这两者共同构成了美国风湿病学会（ACR）的 FMS 诊断标准。问卷中的其他项目记录了工作动机和绩效、工作场所相关应激事件的发生以及创伤后症状的存在。
当前研究共招募了 242 名参与者，包括 239 名（98.8%）女性和 3 名（1.2%）男性。62 人（25.6%）符合 ACR FMS 标准。与不符合标准的教师相比，符合 FMS 标准的教师在工作绩效方面存在显著差异。因此，FMS 阳性教师报告的工作日缺勤率、提前下班率以及与幼儿园儿童、同事和主管的互动质量明显更高。这些人工作的积极性也明显较低。广泛疼痛指数（WPI）和症状严重程度量表（SSS）共同构成了 FMS 诊断标准的组成部分，与应激和创伤后症状呈正相关。此外，广泛的疼痛、睡眠障碍、注意力集中困难和其他 FMS 症状与工作场所的许多特定应激因素密切相关，包括幼儿园的儿童人数、与家长的互动、教室物理条件不佳以及教育系统的各种需求。
在以色列幼儿园教师中，FMS 症状的患病率很高，远远超过了以色列普通人群的患病率。与工作相关的应激事件似乎与 FMS 症状的发生呈正相关，并可能成为其发展的诱因。治疗从事这种职业的个体的医疗保健专业人员应该警惕与 FMS 相关的临床症状和重叠的功能障碍的发生。
