The relationship between occupational stress and gastrointestinal illness: A comprehensive study of public schoolteachers

Abstract

This study used a biopsychosocial approach to examine the complex relationship between occupational stress and gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses in public schoolteachers. Public schoolteachers (N = 3,361) participated in an online study and were assessed based on the presence of current GI symptoms. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were conducted to determine key demographic factors, teacher-specific factors, and psychosocial factors associated with GI illness. The analyses show that teachers reporting female gender, older age, Hispanic ethnicity, poor job satisfaction, job control, work attitude, school climate, student problems, high levels of perceived stress, and poor quality of life were more likely to report GI illness. The implications of this study support the development of prevention and intervention strategies to reduce occupational stress, which may, in turn, reduce the incidence of GI illnesses.

Keywords:

• Gastrointestinal illness
• occupational stress
• quality of life
• teachers