Work ability and analysis of stress-relevant coping with demands of teachers – a cross-sectional comparative study in Germany and Ukraine

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify strain factors and compare work ability and stress-relevant coping with demands for German and Ukrainian teachers. Methods: Data from 147 German and 291 Ukraine teachers were examined. A professional history questionnaire, the Work Ability Index, and a questionnaire for the analysis of stress-relevant coping with demands (inability to recover subscale) were used. The differences among the age groups in the two countries were evaluated. Results: German teachers reported more demands than Ukrainian teachers did. The Work Ability Index score indicates a moderate level of work ability for both groups of teachers. German teachers are more unable to recover than Ukrainian teachers are (P < 0.001), and older German teachers are significantly less able to recover than their Ukrainian counterparts are. Conclusions: Health intervention and promotion are necessary, especially for older teachers.