Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate occupational stress and its related factors among university teachers in Japan. Questionnaire surveys were mailed to 924 university teachers in Japan with a response rate of 43.8%, N = 405. The General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), short Japanese version of brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) and the Work Situation Questionnaires (WSQ) developed by the authors were administered to participants. Results indicated that university teachers had some mental health problems in relation to gender, professional position, conditions of taking paid leave, job satisfaction, job control, social support, and coping skills. These findings provide evidence that in order to improve the mental health of university, teachers need to take their paid leave freely. It is important to keep high their job satisfaction levels, job control levels, and social support. The results also indicated that the ineffective coping styles lead to poor mental health. In addition, the findings identified the necessity for support of female teachers and younger lecturers, who had a greater tendency toward poor mental health.
Highlights
Educators are a group with high stress [1,2], and inJapan the mental health of teaching staff is becoming a serious issue
The relationship between mental health conditions and gender identified that women scored significantly higher in all items-General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28) total score (p < 0.001), and GHQ28 sub-scores: somatic symptoms (p < 0.001), anxiety and insomnia (p < 0.01), social dysfunction (p < 0.05), and severe depression (p < 0.05) and in professional positions, a significant difference was found in the somatic symptoms, with lecturers scoring significantly higher than professors (p < 0.05), respectively (See Table 2)
Authors formulated a hypothesis about a serious mental health issue of teaching staff caused by the outcomes of university teaching staff performance reviews in Japan
Summary
Educators are a group with high stress [1,2], and inJapan the mental health of teaching staff is becoming a serious issue. In 2011, the number of teaching staff in Japanese public primary, middle, and high schools who missed work due to mental disorders was 5274; comprising 62% of sick leave, as reported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2011. This number declined in the last 2 years; it is 8 times what it was in 1979 when the survey began, and this serious state of circumstances continues. The teaching staff of Japanese universities are asked to fulfill roles at research institutions and regional contribution roles
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