This cross-sectional study aims to compare work-related health outcomes between general education teachers and special education teachers. The study will assess burnout, occupational balance, perceived stress, musculoskeletal symptoms, pain characteristics, and general job satisfaction. Participants will complete an online questionnaire including sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, such as age, sex, teaching experience, working hours, and type of teaching assignment. Standardized self-report measures will be used to evaluate burnout, occupational balance, perceived stress, musculoskeletal symptoms, and pain-related characteristics. The study will examine whether teachers working in special education differ from general education teachers in terms of burnout, stress, occupational balance, musculoskeletal problems, and pain. The findings may help identify occupational health needs among teachers and support the development of preventive strategies for improving their well-being and working conditions.
Teachers may be exposed to physical, psychosocial, and organizational demands during their professional activities. These demands may vary according to the characteristics of the educational setting, student population, classroom environment, workload, and responsibilities associated with teaching. Special education teachers may experience additional demands related to individualized instruction, behavioral management, physical assistance, communication needs, and greater emotional involvement with students. This cross-sectional study will investigate differences in occupational health-related outcomes between general education teachers and special education teachers. The study will focus on burnout, occupational balance, perceived stress, musculoskeletal symptoms, pain characteristics, and job satisfaction. In addition, sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, including age, sex, teaching experience, weekly working hours, type of school, and teaching assignment, will be collected to describe the participants and explore factors potentially associated with the study outcomes. Data will be collected through an online questionnaire. Participants will complete validated self-report instruments and study-specific questions regarding demographic characteristics, occupational conditions, pain, and musculoskeletal complaints. Teachers will be classified according to whether they work in general education or special education settings. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of occupational health needs among teachers working in different educational environments. Identifying differences between these groups may support the development of workplace-based preventive approaches aimed at reducing burnout, stress, musculoskeletal problems, and pain while promoting occupational balance and overall well-being.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Participants completed assessment forms and diaries. No intervention was administered.
Lokman Hekim University, Ankara
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
Emotional Exhaustion Assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey
Emotional exhaustion will be assessed using the Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey. The subscale consists of 9 items rated on a 7-point frequency scale ranging from 0 ("Never") to 6 ("Every day"). Total scores range from 0 to 54. Higher scores indicate greater emotional exhaustion.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1)
Occupational Balance Assessed by the Activity-Rol Balance Questionnaire-11 Turkish Version
Occupational balance will be assessed using the Activity-Rol Balance Questionnaire-11 Turkish Version. The questionnaire consists of 11 items scored from 0 ("Strongly disagree") to 3 ("Strongly agree"). The total score ranges from 0 to 33. Higher scores indicate a higher level of occupational balance.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1)
Pain Intensity Assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale. Participants will rate their current or recent pain intensity on an 11-point scale ranging from 0 ("No pain") to 10 ("Worst imaginable pain"). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1)
Musculoskeletal Symptoms Assessed by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
Musculoskeletal symptoms will be assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluates the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in nine body regions during the previous 12 months and the previous 7 days. Participants will also report whether musculoskeletal symptoms prevented them from performing normal daily activities. Outcomes will be reported as the presence or absence of symptoms for each body region and the number of affected body regions.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1)
Perceived Stress Assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale
Perceived stress will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. The total score will be calculated according to the scoring instructions of the scale. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.