Predictors of job satisfaction among teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: cross-sectional results of a nationwide online questionnaire.

Introduction: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic teaching was changed several times to distance learning. To consider the associated stresses and challenges for teachers a nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in March 2021 in which N = 31,089 teachers from Germany participated. Methods: A multiple linear regression model with stepwise inclusion of thematically sorted variables (sociodemographic, SARS-CoV-2- and work-related variables) was used to identify relevant predictors of job satisfaction. Results: The analysis revealed that work-related variables were significant predictors of job satisfaction. In the third regression model, when all variables are included the adjusted R2 was 0.364. Overall, the results showed that, e.g., work predictability (b = 0.097), influence at work (b = 0.118), and meaning of work (b = 0.212) increased job satisfaction. In contrast, increased emotional exhaustion (b = -0.016), feelings of unfair treatment (b = -0.048), and work family conflicts (b = -0.154) deteriorated job satisfaction. Discussion: The results indicate that future research should focus especially the work-related topics in more detail and that job satisfaction is a useful concept for analyzing working conditions from a public health point of view.

Mental health state and its determinants in German university students across the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from three repeated cross-sectional surveys between 2019 and 2021.

Background: Students were at an increased risk for elevated mental symptoms during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. As universities remained closed much longer than anticipated, the mental burden was expected to persist through the second year of the pandemic. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental distress from 2019 through 2021 and identify risk factors for elevated mental burden, focusing on gender. Methods: We analyzed three cross-sectional online surveys among students at the University of Mainz, conducted in 2019 (n = 4,351), 2020 (n = 3,066), and 2021 (n = 1,438). Changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and loneliness were calculated using Pearson's chi-square tests and analyses of variance. Multiple linear regressions yielded associated risk factors. Results: The proportion of students with clinically relevant depressive symptoms was significantly higher during the pandemic (38.9% in 2020, and 40.7% in 2021), compared to pre-pandemic (29.0% in 2019). Similarly, more students reported suicidal ideation and generalized anxiety during the pandemic with a peak in the second pandemic year (2021). The level of loneliness was significantly higher in 2020, compared to 2019, and remained at a high level in 2021 (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.142). Female and diverse/open gender, being single, living alone, and being a first-year student were identified as risk factors associated with mental burden during the pandemic. Discussion: Mental burdens remained elevated among students through the second year of the pandemic and were associated with socio-demographic risk factors and pandemic-related concerns. Future research should monitor recovery and evaluate the need for psychosocial support.

Sedentary time of university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk groups and pre-pandemic predictors using cross-sectional and longitudinal data.

Background: The present study aimed to (1) assess and compare sedentary time (ST) of university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) examine risk groups with regard to ST and the "extent of change" in ST (from before to during the pandemic) in association with sociodemographic (gender, age), study-related (degree aspired to, field of study, semester), and pre-pandemic physical health-related [pre-pandemic physical activity (PA) and ST levels, pre-pandemic BMI class] variables, and (3) investigate whether the change in ST was predicted by these variables. Methods: Two online surveys were conducted among students at the University of Mainz, Germany-the first in 2019 (before the pandemic) and the second in 2020 (during the pandemic). Participants of both surveys were included in a longitudinal sample. With the longitudinal sample's data, paired t-tests, single factor, and mixed analyses of variances were used to examine group differences in ST and the "extent of change" in ST. A linear regression analysis was computed to investigate the influence of the abovementioned sociodemographic, study-related, and pre-pandemic physical health-related variables on the change in ST. Results: Of the N = 4,351 (pre-pandemic) and N = 3,066 (in-pandemic) participants of the online surveys, N = 443 entered the longitudinal sample. ST increased by 1.4 h/day to critical levels (≥8 h/day) in all subgroups analyzed-even among students who were highly physically active before the pandemic. Students with a low pre-pandemic ST had the largest increase in ST. Pre-pandemic PA level negatively predicted the change in ST. Conclusion: Even during a global pandemic lockdown, individuals who were previously more physically active and had less ST showed more health-promoting behavior in terms of ST. Therefore, it can be stated that efforts to promote PA and reduce ST are always valuable. Since ST increased and was worryingly high in all subgroups analyzed, all university students should be targeted by multidimensional approaches to tackle ST and promote their health.

Implementation of occupational safety and health measures at German schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic—cross-sectional results from 31,089 teachers

Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exacerbated existing health-related challenges in schools and created new ones. Under pandemic conditions, health risks increased, and with them the requirements for occupational safety and health (OSH) measures. The aim of the study was (a) to examine the status quo of OSH measures in German schools, (b) to analyze whether the implementation of OSH measures was associated with preferable outcomes and (c) to identify predictors for the implementation of OSH measures. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among teachers at all school types in Germany in March 2021. Data on the implementation of OSH measures (risk assessments, infection protection instructions and instructions on occupational safety), associated health-related parameters (e.g., somatic symptoms, PHQ-15) and predictor variables (e.g., gender, age or federal states) were assessed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis. Results Less than 10% of surveyed teachers (N = 31,089) reported that their schools met legal requirements for occupational safety and health measures. Beneficial associations became apparent where more measures were implemented, e.g., significantly better somatic and mental health. Predictors for the implementation of OSH measures were found, especially on a systemic level (e.g., federal states schools were located in). Conclusions Our study can serve as a basis for future studies. It provides a status quo regarding the implementation of, associations with and predictors for OSH measures in German schools. Our results are best understood as evidence-based arguments to encourage political decision makers to improve the implementation of OSH measures in German schools and thereby foster teachers' health.

Informiert = Geimpft? Das Informationsverhalten und die COVID-19-Impfentscheidung bei Studierenden

ZusammenfassungEine zu geringe Impfbereitschaft zählt zu den größten globalen Gesundheitsgefahren und war in der COVID-19-Pandemie auch in Deutschland eine der großen Herausforderungen der öffentlichen Gesundheit. Die Identifikation potenzieller Einflussfaktoren auf das Impfverhalten ist deshalb für eine zielgruppengerechte Gesundheitskommunikation von großer Bedeutung. Studierende sind eine besonders wichtige Zielgruppe der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. Der Beitrag geht mit Hilfe einer Online-Befragung der Studierenden einer westdeutschen Universität (n = 1398) im Sommersemester 2021 den Fragen nach, inwieweit sich geimpfte und ungeimpfte Studierende mit hoher bzw. niedrigerer Impfintention hinsichtlich a) ihrer Medien- und Informationsnutzung und b) ihres Vertrauens in Medien und Informationsquellen in der COVID-19-Pandemie unterschieden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen z. T. deutliche Differenzen. Während geimpfte Studierende sich intensiver informierten und hierfür auch stärker auf klassische Medienangebote zurückgriifen, vertrauten insbesondere ungeimpfte Studierende mit niedrigerer Impfintention u. a. mehr auf alternative Nachrichtenseiten und Blogs.

Predictors of resilience of university students to educational stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted educational systems worldwide, and various alarming effects of this crisis on university students' mental health have been reported. This study aimed to identify which factors, existing prior to the pandemic (summer term 2019), might be related to resilience when dealing with academic demands during the pandemic (summer term 2020). A sample of 443 university students took part in a longitudinal survey study at a large university in Germany. Resilience, defined as the level of adaptation to a stressor, was operationalized by modeling latent change scores of emotional exhaustion, depression, and somatization in the face of study stress. Multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze how potential facilitating and hindering factors were related to resilience demonstration while controlling for study stressors (workload, work complexity, and change in time spent studying). Academic self-efficacy was positively related to various forms of resilience demonstration, while competition was negatively related. Performance pressure was negatively related to only one form of resilience demonstration. No evidence was found for social support (from lecturers or fellow students) being positively related to the demonstration of resilience. This study confirms previous findings regarding relevant resilience factors such as self-efficacy. It also reveals unexpected aspects such as social support, and it indicates new constructs in resilience research in a university setting such as competition and performance pressure. Practical implications can be drawn from this research to benefit resilience promotion among students in preparation for challenging times. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Implementation of occupational safety and health measures at German schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-cross-sectional results from 31,089 teachers.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exacerbated existing health-related challenges in schools and created new ones. Under pandemic conditions, health risks increased, and with them the requirements for occupational safety and health (OSH) measures. The aim of the study was (a) to examine the status quo of OSH measures in German schools, (b) to analyze whether the implementation of OSH measures was associated with preferable outcomes and (c) to identify predictors for the implementation of OSH measures. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among teachers at all school types in Germany in March 2021. Data on the implementation of OSH measures (risk assessments, infection protection instructions and instructions on occupational safety), associated health-related parameters (e.g., somatic symptoms, PHQ-15) and predictor variables (e.g., gender, age or federal states) were assessed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Less than 10% of surveyed teachers (N = 31,089) reported that their schools met legal requirements for occupational safety and health measures. Beneficial associations became apparent where more measures were implemented, e.g., significantly better somatic and mental health. Predictors for the implementation of OSH measures were found, especially on a systemic level (e.g., federal states schools were located in). Conclusions: Our study can serve as a basis for future studies. It provides a status quo regarding the implementation of, associations with and predictors for OSH measures in German schools. Our results are best understood as evidence-based arguments to encourage political decision makers to improve the implementation of OSH measures in German schools and thereby foster teachers' health.

Informiert = Geimpft? Das Informationsverhalten und die COVID-19-Impfentscheidung bei Studierenden Informed = vaccinated? Information behavior and COVID-19 vaccination decision among university students

Eine zu geringe Impfbereitschaft zählt zu den größten globalen Gesundheitsgefahren und war in der COVID-19-Pandemie auch in Deutschland eine der großen Herausforderungen der öffentlichen Gesundheit. Die Identifikation potenzieller Einflussfaktoren auf das Impfverhalten ist deshalb für eine zielgruppengerechte Gesundheitskommunikation von großer Bedeutung. Studierende sind eine besonders wichtige Zielgruppe der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. Der Beitrag geht mit Hilfe einer Online-Befragung der Studierenden einer westdeutschen Universität (n = 1398) im Sommersemester 2021 den Fragen nach, inwieweit sich geimpfte und ungeimpfte Studierende mit hoher bzw. niedrigerer Impfintention hinsichtlich a) ihrer Medien- und Informationsnutzung und b) ihres Vertrauens in Medien und Informationsquellen in der COVID-19-Pandemie unterschieden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen z. T. deutliche Differenzen. Während geimpfte Studierende sich intensiver informierten und hierfür auch stärker auf klassische Medienangebote zurückgriifen, vertrauten insbesondere ungeimpfte Studierende mit niedrigerer Impfintention u. a. mehr auf alternative Nachrichtenseiten und Blogs.

Determinants of university students' COVID-19 vaccination intentions and behavior.

Vaccination hesitancy has been a major challenge for health authorities and societies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The general determinants of vaccination intentions and behavior include sociodemographic and health-related, psychological, and communication-related factors, with varying relevance for different types of vaccinations, countries, and target groups. The predictors of university students' COVID-19 vaccination behavior have not been sufficiently studied. Using a German university as an example and based on an online survey of 1398 university students, we investigated factors related to (a) the likelihood of vaccination against COVID-19 and (b) vaccination intention among those who had not been vaccinated by summer of 2021. Psychological factors showed high relevance. Field of study, trust in, and use of certain media and information channels were found to be important determinants of students' vaccination decision. Our findings can help better understand university students' vaccination behavior to develop and implement tailored strategies and campaigns.

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

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.

The Prevalence of Pharmacological Neuroenhancement Among University Students Before and During the COVID-19-Pandemic: Results of Three Consecutive Cross-Sectional Survey Studies in Germany.

Background: According to the literature, the conditions of studying and living as well as the psychological, social and health behavior-related variables, which were strongly related to pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) before the pandemic, significantly changed during the pandemic. For this reason, it is expected that the prevalence of PN among university students is higher during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence of PN among university students before and during the COVID-19-pandemic. Methods: Three online surveys assessing the 12-month prevalence of PN were conducted among university students at the University of Mainz, Germany. The first survey took place in summer term 2019 (before the pandemic), the second in summer term 2020 (during the first German lockdown), and the third in summer term 2021 (after the second German lockdown). Pearson's chi-square test was used to test whether the 12-month prevalence of PN differed significantly between the three surveys. Results: The 12-month prevalence of PN was 10.4% in 2019, 11.3% in 2020, and 8.0% in 2021. Chi-square tests revealed no statistical difference in the prevalence of PN between 2019 and 2020. Overall, the use of PN was lower in 2021 compared to 2019 (p < 0.0001) as well as in comparison to 2020 (p = 0.001). Only the use of cannabis slightly increased from 2019 to 2020 (7.1 vs. 8.3%) and decreased in 2021 (5.4%). At all three time points, cannabis was the most commonly used substance for the purpose of PN. Consequently, the results suggest that the prevalence of PN was highly intertwined with the prevalence of cannabis use for PN. Discussion: The decrease in the prevalence of PN of around three percentage points in 2021 compared to the previous years was a surprising finding. It may be mainly due to the decrease in the prevalence of cannabis for the purpose of PN. However, the fairly high prevalence of PN of around 8% in 2021 is still an important finding that demonstrates that there is still an urgent need for prevention initiatives among university students to combat the use of PN.

The impact of lockdown stress and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among university students in Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shutdown of universities in Germany. In a longitudinal design, we compared mental health (depression, anxiety, somatic complaints) of university students in Germany before (June to August 2019) and in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020) and determined the impact of pandemic-related stress and loneliness on students' mental health in self-report online surveys. We investigated 443 participants (mean age 22.8 years), among them 77% female, and 10.4% medical students. A small increase of depression mean scores was observed (F(1,420) = 5.21; p = .023), anxiety and somatic complaints have not significantly changed. There was a medium increase in loneliness from pre-pandemic scores to the pandemic situation (F(1,423) = 30.56; p < .001). Analyzed with regression analyses, current loneliness and pre-pandemic distress represented the strongest associations with mental health during the pandemic. Additionally, health-related concerns during the pandemic were associated with symptoms of depression [b = 0.21; 95%CI(0.08; 0.34); t = 3.12; p = .002], anxiety [b = 0.07; 95%CI(0.01; 0.12); t = 2.50; p = .013], somatic complaints [b = 0.33; 95%CI(0.18; 0.47); t = 4.49; p < .001], and loneliness [b = 0.10; 95%CI(0.03; 0.17); t = 2.74; p = .006]. Social stress due to the pandemic situation was associated with loneliness [b = 0.38; 95%CI(0.32; 0.45); t = 11.75; p < .001]. The results imply that university students represent a risk group for psychosocial long-term ramifications of the pandemic.

Comparing SARS-CoV-2 case rates between pupils, teachers and the general population: results from Germany.

Given the inconsistent state of research regarding the role of pupils and teachers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany, statewide and nationwide data of infection case rates were analyzed to contribute to the discourse. Infection data from official sources ranging from mid to late 2020 were collected, prepared and analyzed to answer the question if pupils, teachers and general population differed in active case rates or not. The data showed that pupils and teachers case rates didn't exceeded those of the general population. In conclusion, it seems appropriate to appraise school-related measures to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic sufficiently. Data quality is a yet to overcome obstacle to provide good evidence-based recommendations regarding the management around infection cases in schools.

Online teaching in radiology as a pilot model for modernizing medical education: results of an international study in cooperation with the ESR.

BACKGROUND: Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it proved necessary to rapidly change medical education from on-site to online teaching. Thus, medical educators were forced to rethink the purpose of teaching and the best form of transmission of knowledge. In cooperation with the European Society of Radiology (ESR), we investigated the attitudes of radiologists in Europe and North America toward innovative online teaching concepts. METHODS: In total, 224 radiologists from 31 different countries participated in our cross-sectional, web-based survey study. On a 7-point Likert scale, participants had to answer 27 questions about the online teaching situation before/during the pandemic, technical and social aspects of online teaching and the future role of online teaching in radiology. RESULTS: An overwhelming majority stated that radiology is particularly well-suited for online teaching (91%), that online teaching should play a more prominent role after the pandemic (73%) and that lecturers should be familiar with online teaching techniques (89%). Difficulties include a higher workload in preparing online courses (59%), issues with motivating students to follow online courses (56%) and the risk of social isolation (71%). Before the pandemic, only 12% of teaching was provided online; for the future, our participants deemed a proportion of approximately 50% online teaching appropriate. CONCLUSION: Our participants are open-minded about online teaching in radiology. As the best way of transferring knowledge in medical education is still unclear, online teaching offers potential for innovation in radiology education. To support online teaching development, a structured, framework-based "online curriculum" should be established.

Health Information Seeking Among University Students Before and During the Corona Crisis-Findings From Germany.

Health information-seeking behavior is the process of gathering information about health and disease and can be influential for health-related perception and behavior. University students are an important target group for prevention and health promotion and largely belong to an age group that is considered to play a leading role in propagating the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Germany. The paper deals with students' health information-seeking behavior before and during the corona crisis, aiming to give insights into its determinants and implications. Using the example of a large German comprehensive university and based on two cross-sectional surveys in the summer of 2019 (n = 4,351) and 2020 (n = 3,066), we investigate which information channels students use for health information, how information seeking changes during the course of the pandemic, and to what extent information seeking is associated with risk perception and risk behavior. For a subsample of participants that participated in both surveys (n = 443), we also trace developments at the individual level through a longitudinal analysis. The results show that students' health information seeking takes place primarily online and changed markedly during the corona crisis. The comparatively high relevance of sources that are largely based on unchecked user-generated content raises the concern whether students' health information-seeking behavior guarantees the necessary quality and reliability of health information. Significant correlations between the intensity of corona-related information seeking, risk perception, and actual risk behavior were found.