Schoolteachers with voice handicap are twice as likely to report depressive symptoms.

This study aimed to examine the association between voice disorder and depressive symptoms in schoolteachers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with elementary and secondary schoolteachers. Voice disorders and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Voice Handicap Index-10 and the Beck Depression Inventory-II, respectively. Logistic and linear regressions models were adjusted for confounding variables. In the 389 schoolteachers studied, the prevalence of voice handicap and depressive symptoms was 18.8 and 38.8%, respectively. Voice handicap was associated with depressive symptoms on all models tested. The logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 2.21 (95% confidence interval: 1.19, 4.08; p value < 0.05), while in the linear regression each point increase on the voice disorder scale increased the Beck Depression Inventory-II score by 0.39 points (95% confidence interval: 0.26, 0.54; p value < 0.05). This study showed that teachers of public schools with voice handicap are twice as likely to report depressive symptoms.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain and occupational aspects among Brazilian teachers.

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the association between working conditions and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) in regions of the body in teachers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed with 958 teachers from Brazil. Outcomes were chronic pain in the upper limbs, lower back and lower limbs. Independent variables were characteristics and perceptions about the work. Poisson regression models were adjusted by socio-demographic, lifestyle and co-morbidity variables. Results. After adjustments, strong associations were observed between a negative perception regarding writing on the board and pain in the upper limbs (prevalence ratio [PR] = 4.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.02, 10.70]) and lower back pain (PR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.06, 4.15]) and between a negative perception of standing duration and pain in the lower limbs (PR = 3.98; 95% CI [1.54, 10.26]). Additionally, the number of workplaces, number of students and conditions for carrying teaching material were associated with pain in the upper limbs. Time in the profession and a negative perception of work-life balance were associated with pain in the lower limbs. Conclusions. Different work conditions were associated with CMP in different body regions. Policies to improve teachers' working conditions, such as providing furniture that meets teachers' ergonomic needs, are needed to reduce CMP.