TITLE:
A pilot study evaluating the factors associated with psychological distress of school teachers in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
AUTHORS:
Yoshikazu Miyamae, Nobuyuki Miyatake, Junko Miyamae, Takeshi Suzue, Noriko Sakano, Taichi Nagatomi, Wataru Shiraki, Tomohiro Hirao
KEYWORDS:
Psychological Distress; K6; School Teacher; Kagawa Prefecture; Japan
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.6,
June
6,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective:
We investigated the psychological distress of school teachers using a 6-item instrument (the K6) in Kagawa prefecture, Japan. Methods: A total of 670 school
teachers (328 men and 342 women) were
analyzed in this cross-sectional investigation study. The association between psychological distress and clinical factors was evaluated by using the K6 instrument, with psychological distress
defined as 13 or more points out of a total
of 24 points. Results: A total of 55 teachers (8.2%) were classified as
having psychological distress. No significant relationships between the K6
score and sex, age, duration of experience
as a teacher, school grade and title were noted. The K6 score in
teachers with consciousness of suicide among students was higher than that
without, but not at a significant level. Conclusion:
Some teachers were defined as having psychological distress in Kagawa
prefecture, Japan. However, no relevant effects of basic characteristics such
as age and sex on psychological distress were recognized.