Effort-Reward Imbalance for Learning is Associated with Fatigue in School Children

Abstract

We examined relationships among fatigue, sleep quality, and effort-reward imbalance for learning in school children. We developed an effort-reward for learning scale in school students and examined its reliability and validity. Self-administered surveys, including the effort reward for leaning scale and fatigue scale, were completed by 1,023 elementary school students (grades 4–6) and 1,361 junior high school students (grades 7–9) at the end of 2006. Effort-reward imbalance for learning was associated with a high incidence of fatigue and sleep problems in elementary and junior high school students of both genders. A good relationship with family was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school boys, and a good relationship with friends was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school girls by multiple regression analysis. Fatigue score was associated with effort-reward imbalance and fatigue and quality of sleep in schoolchildren. Fatigue may lead to a decline in school performance, negative health outcomes, or refusal to attend school. These results suggest that it is desirable to consider social support, quality of sleep, and effort-reward imbalance when managing fatigue in school children.

Keywords:

• effort-reward imbalance
• fatigue
• school children

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by a grant-in-aid from RISTEX/ Japan Science and Technology Agency “Brain Science and Education.”