Psychological Burdens among Teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic—Subgroup Analysis from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Clemens Koestner (), Viktoria Eggert, Theresa Dicks, Kristin Kalo, Carolina Zähme, Pavel Dietz, Stephan Letzel and Till Beutel
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Clemens Koestner: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Viktoria Eggert: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Theresa Dicks: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Kristin Kalo: Department of Sports Medicine, Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 22, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Carolina Zähme: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Pavel Dietz: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Stephan Letzel: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Till Beutel: Institute for Teachers’ Health, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Kupferbergterrasse 17–19, 55116 Mainz, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Schools underwent massive changes during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide. Besides existing occupational health challenges, teachers had to deal with biological and psychological burdens that had the potential to impact their psychological well-being. The aim of the present study was to (i) assess the current state of psychological burdens in German teachers and (ii) identify highly burdened subgroups to derive and address interventions. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among teachers at all school types in Germany in March 2021. Data on psychological strains were assessed using established (e.g., PHQ-4) and new—pandemic-specific—(e.g., COVID-19-associated anxieties) instruments. ANOVAs and Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to identify highly burdened subgroups (e.g., gender, age, and number of risk factors for severe courses of COVID-19) of teachers. Results: Psychological burdens in German teachers (N = 31.089) exceeded the level of the general population, for example, regarding symptoms of depression (PHQ-2, M = 1.93 vs. 1.24) or generalized anxiety (GAD-2, M = 1.72 vs. 1.03). Subgroup analysis revealed that psychological burdens were unevenly distributed among different groups of teachers; for example, younger teachers (18–30 years) showed more depression symptoms compared with their older colleagues (56–67 years) (PHQ-2, M = 2.01 vs. 1.78). Conclusions: The online survey was conducted during the “third wave” of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany, which might have influenced risk perception and psychological strains. Future studies at different times, ideally longitudinal monitoring of the mental health of teachers, are recommended. Based on our results, evidence-based subgroup-specific interventions should be implemented to sustain teachers’ mental health; for example, younger teachers or teachers with risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 should receive special attention and support. Teachers from special needs schools whose mental health is, on average, good could also be a starting point for identifying the health promotion structural elements of this school type (e.g., fewer students per teacher). However, beyond the specific pandemic-related psychological burdens, the classic occupational health challenges of physical, biological, and chemical stress and their resulting strains should not be disregarded.

Keywords: COVID-19; mental health; teachers; school; depression; anxiety; burnout (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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