Fatigue symptoms and their related factors of workers in institutions for the mentally retarded

Abstract

This study examined the fatigue symptoms and their relative factors in a group of nursery teachers and guidance workers (n = 480) belonging to institutions for the mentally retarded. 1) More than 50% of the respondents complained of neck stiffness and/or backache. The mean scores of the physical symptoms were higher than the standard cumulative fatigue symptoms index, while those of the mental symptoms were lower. 2) Analysis of variance showed that physical fatigue symptoms were higher in females, younger workers, those with longer years of service, those with more night duties per month, and those who expressed more dissatisfaction with their co-workers, wages, working hours, and work shift. Physical fatigue symptoms were not related to the severity of the mental disease of their clients. 3) Analysis of variance also showed that mental fatigue symptoms were higher in females, younger workers, and persons who expressed more dissatisfaction with their jobs, supervisors, co-workers, wages, working hours, and work shift. The severity of the mental disease of their clients was directly related to the mental fatigue symptoms. Furthermore, multiple classification analysis showed that those working with children had both higher irritability and morale than those working with adults.