Effect of work- related stress on secondary school teachers

ABSTRACT

This work aimed at investigating the effect of job stress on the level of some stress hormones as well as on the blood pressure and heart rate among a group of secondary school female teachers. The study population was composed of 42 secondary school female teachers who were divided into a group of high tasks [n=30] and a group of low task [n=12]. The control group was composed of 43 matched females. Every subject was examined using a medical questionnaire, measurement of radial pulse and blood pressure in addition to measurement of serum cortisol and urinary level of vallinylmandelic acid [VMA], the main catecholamine metabolite. There was a statistically insignificant increase in the prevalence of stress related symptoms such as fatigue, low back pain and gastrointestinal disturbances among the teachers' group compared to the controls. The mean levels of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum cortisol and urinary vallinylmandelic acid were significantly higher among the teachers of the high task group. Heart rate and blood pressure were significantly correlated with the age and duration of work. Being one of the stressful jobs, teaching is associated with an increase of the level of stress hormones [cortisol and catecholamines] with a consequent increase in the blood pressure and the risk of development of heart disease