Are there any job resources capable of moderating the effect of physical demands on work ability? A study among kindergarten teachers

Abstract

Background. It is recognized that teaching in a preschool context is physically demanding. Despite this, the consequences of physical demands on psychophysical health (including work ability) are significantly understudied among kindergarten teachers. Objectives. The aim of the present study is to examine (a) the association between physical demands and work ability and (b) whether psychosocial job resources buffer the negative impact of physical demands among kindergarten teachers. Method. A total of 426 kindergarten teachers employed in the municipal educational services of a city in northwest Italy filled out a self-reported questionnaire. Results. High association was found between physical demand and work ability. Moderated hierarchical regressions showed that decision authority, skill discretion, reward and meaning of work buffer the hampering effect of physical demands and work ability. No buffering effects were observed for support from superiors and colleagues. Conclusion. The present study has relevant, practical implications, highlighting the importance of investing in interventions encompassing a holistic perspective (e.g., psychosocial and ergonomic) in order to effectively combat the hampering effect of physical demands on work ability.

Keywords:

• physical demands
• job resources
• work ability
• kindergarten teachers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Sara Viotti http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9026-9334

Daniela Converso http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6780-4746

Notes

1. Preschool services were established in Italy in 1971, with Law No. 1044, with the purpose to sustain the education and the development of children aged 3−6. This service is provided by kindergarten teachers who have specific professional competences and skills acquired through professional training.

2. The response rate was 53%. The non-response percentage included about 30 teachers that at the time of the research were temporarily off-duty (due to parental leave, long term illness and injury-related absences) and about 20 teachers temporarily reassigned to other functions within the educational services. Moreover, three schools (including about 80 kindergarten teachers) were excluded from the survey because they were dealing with an important reorganization of the service.

3. In order to measure work meaning we used five items from the version of COPSOQ (edition 2003) available at the following link: http://www.arbejdsmiljoforskning.dk/~/media/Spoergeskemaer/copsoq/english-copsoq-2-ed-2003-pdf.pdf#

Additional information

Funding

The present study was funded by the Municipality of Turin (Comune di Torino) project ‘Qualità della vita organizzativa, promozione del benessere e contrasto del disagio psicosociale: progettazione di una ricerca-intervento con le educatrici/insegnanti del Settore Educativo del Comune di Torino.’ Holder of the fund: Daniela Converso.