Associating Psychological Factors With Workplace Satisfaction and Position Duration in a Sample of International School Teachers.

To be an effective teacher, a combination of specific professional skills and psychological attributes are required. With increasingly fluid employment conditions, particularly in the international context, recruiters and schools are under considerable pressure to quickly differentiate candidates and make successful placements, which involves more than just determining if a candidate holds an appropriate qualification. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to measure theoretically and empirically valuable psychological attributes in an international sample of schoolteachers to determine the most valuable correlates of satisfaction and position duration. An international sample (N = 335) of elementary, middle and high school teachers completed an online survey to capture their workplace satisfaction, position duration and measure 15 psychological attributes using validated instruments. Linear associations were estimated using hierarchical regression with this analysis complemented and compared with follow-up non-linear neural network models. Using regression, lower agreeableness (less people-oriented) emerged as the strongest correlate of longer position duration throughout the cohort. In elementary school teachers, lower impulsivity and higher organizational commitment emerged as the strongest correlates of longer position duration. In high school teachers, better stress tolerance and higher organizational commitment emerged as the strongest correlates of longer position duration. Using neural networks to suggest predictive models, low levels of neuroticism and impulsivity were the strongest predictors of longer position duration in elementary school teachers. High stress tolerance also predicted high work satisfaction in elementary teachers, whereas it was lower impulsivity that most strongly predicted higher work satisfaction in high school teachers. Innovation tendencies, perhaps surprisingly, appeared as a consistent predictor of lower levels of workplace satisfaction across teaching levels. Honesty-humility also emerged as a predictor of shorter position duration, particularly for primary/elementary teachers scoring above the mean. Taken together the results suggest an interesting balancing act that needs to be struck between hiring people-oriented and innovative teachers who may be more effective and adaptable but also at greater risk of changing position, possibly due to an increased interest and ability to transition into new social environments.

Noise levels in adult and pediatric orthopedic cast clinics.

Prolonged exposure to high-intensity noise has been associated with noise-induced hearing loss, hypertension, psychological stress, and irritability. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health considers levels above 85 decibels (dB) as harmful. In the study reported here, we sought to determine whether noise levels in orthopedic cast clinics were within safe limits. A calibrated noise dosimeter was worn by cast technologists during 7 adult and 7 pediatric cast clinics, and noise levels were recorded. Mean equivalent continuous noise levels were 77.8 dB (adult clinics) and 76.5 dB (pediatric clinics), mean noise levels adjusted for an 8-hour day were 76.6 dB (adult) and 75.9 dB (pediatric), and mean peak noise levels were 140.0 dB (adult) and 140.7 dB (pediatric). Mean noise levels in cast clinics were within safe limits and there was no statistical difference in noise levels between adult and pediatric clinics. However, peak noise levels in all clinics exceeded recommended limits, and even brief exposure to noise of this intensity may be hazardous.

Swim Positioning and its Influence on Triathlon Outcome.

Questions have been raised regarding which of the three legs of a triathlon influences the final finishing position. Some coaches subjectively believe that the swim and run are more important than the cycle, especially since the introduction of drafting during the cycle. This study analysed race position shifts between each of the three disciplines to assess the importance of the swim finish position and final finish position during draft legal Olympic distance triathlon events. Ten male and 10 female triathlon world cup events during one season were analysed. The results suggested that the triathlon swim leg is important because the winner exited the water in the first pack in 90% of elite male and 70% of elite female races. Correlations were also derived from finishing order for the whole triathlon and a finishing order that included the swim only, cycle only or run only time. For men, the average correlations for final finishing order with each of the swim, cycle and run, respectively, were 0.49, 0.67 and 0.86 and for the women; average correlations were 0.39, 0.67 and 0.85. Hence, this indicated that it was important to exit the water in the first pack and run well after cycling to achieve a successful final finishing position.