# Stress and associated factors in public school teachers: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study explores stress levels and contributing factors among public school teachers in Piauí, Brazil, highlighting the need for health interventions.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on stress in public school teachers, emphasizing gender and health-related factors.

## Key findings

- Most participants were women, with significant stress levels observed in this group.
- Teachers with thyroid problems showed statistically significant higher stress levels.
- Over half of the teachers worked multiple shifts, contributing to stress and health issues.

## Abstract

The search for improving productivity and performance at work has exposed workers to
high levels of stress. Since the working conditions of basic education teachers
interfere negatively with their health, it is important to study the entire context
involving teachers, in order to encourage the promotion of workers’ health actions.

To investigate stress levels and associated factors in public school teachers.

The study was conducted through online questionnaires sent to public school teachers in
the state of Piauí, in 2020, using the snowball method. Sociodemographic and
economic characteristics and risk habits (smoking, alcoholism, and sedentary lifestyle)
of the study sample were investigated, as well as clinical, anthropometric, and
stress-related conditions.

A total of 126 teachers participated in the study, most of which were women (88.9%),
had a family income from three to four minimum salaries (30.2%), and worked two shift or
more (55.6%); furthermore, 10.3% reported having hypertension; 8.7%, musculoskeletal
diseases; 3.2%, thyroid-related problems; and 2.4%, diabetes. A statistically
significant difference in median stress levels was observed in women (p = 0.002) and in
individuals with thyroid problems (p = 0.015).

Teachers, especially women working in this job, suffer from expressive levels of
stress, which can directly affect their quality of life, requiring the development of
measures to prevent stress, in order to improve the health and the performance of these
professionals.