The effects of social support,anxiety and depression on quality of life(QOL) of primary middle school teachers:a path analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of social support, anxiety and depression on the quality of life(QOL) of primary-middle school teachers and to provide basis to improve their QOL. MethodsThrough cluster-stratified sampling, 622 primary-middle school teachers in Chenzhou were investigated by WHOQOL-BREF scale, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). A path analysis was applied by AMOS(Analysis of Moment Structures) version 7.0. ResultsThe means of 4 domains of WHOQOL-BREF for primary-middle school teachers were respectively:physical domain (PHYS) 60.88±11.67,psychological domain (PSYCH) 58.54±12.62,social relation domain (SOCIL) 64.46±13.86 and environmental domain (ENVIR) 41.29±14.37. The path analysis shows that anxiety was inversely related to all 4 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF and depression was inversely related to 3 domains (exclusion PHYS domain) of the WHOQOL-BREF(P<0.05). Social support was directly related to all 4 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF(P<0.05). Social support mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression and 4 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Total effects of anxiety or social support on all 4 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF were stronger than that of depression.ConclusionAnxiety and depression may have different effects on QOL of primary-middle school teachers. Social support as mediated variable mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression and QOL. Key words: Quality of life; Social support; Anxiety; Depression; Path analysis; Primary-middle school teachers