Work load among german and ukrainian kindergarten teachers and its effects on work ability and mental health

Abstract

Introduction. Kindergarten teachers are exposed to various stresses during their work, which can result in negative stress. The aim of the research – was to survey the stress situation of kindergarten teachers from Germany (Magdeburg area) and Ukraine (Kharkiv city) and to compare the effects of the strain on the mental health and work ability of kindergarten teachers. Materials and methods of the research. 185 German and 107 Ukrainian kindergarten teachers took part in the survey voluntarily. The load and subjective stress were assessed using the Rudow checklist. Mental health was recorded using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and work ability using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results. Both random samples indicated factors from the categories «work tasks and organisation» and «children and group» as the most frequent strain factors; the stress level was high in both cases. German nursery school teachers felt a greater burden and stress overall compared to Ukrainian kindergarten teachers. Mental health was subjectively impaired in 25% of the German and 11.2% of the Ukrainian kindergarten teachers (p < 0.01). The GHQ score of (12.2 ± 5.5) points was higher for German kindergarten teachers than for their Ukrainian colleagues with (9.0 ± 4.5) points (p < 0.001). German educators reported significantly (p < 0.001) lower work ability (7.3 points ± 1.7 points) than Ukrainian educators (8.0 points ± 1.4 points). Both groups manage physical demands equally well, while Ukrainian educators manage mental demands better (3.7 points ± 0.7 points vs. 3.4 points ± 0.8 points; p < 0.05). Conclusions. The mental health of the kindergarten teachers should be promoted through measures of behavioural prevention. Within the scope of occupational health care, the first signs of mental impairment among the child care workers could be recorded in order to be able to take intervention measures in good time.