Predictors of common mental disorders among Brazilian elementary school teachers: A cross-sectional exploratory study

Intensification of the work of elementary school teachers over the years has influenced teachers’ health, mainly mental health outcomes. The aim of the present study was to analyze the predictors of common mental disorders among Brazilian elementary school teachers. The sample involved 530 elementary school teachers from 63 schools in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Common mental disorders were assessed through a self-report questionnaire. The independent variables were related to work, lifestyle, and health disorders. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios. The prevalence of common mental disorders in the overall sample was 31.6%. In the multivariate analysis, the work predictors associated with higher common mental disorder prevalence were inadequate infrastructure of schools, experience of violence, and low job support. With regard to health characteristics, teachers with musculoskeletal symptoms, problems related to dust, emotional exhaustion, low professional achievements, and one or more chronic diseases presented a higher prevalence of common mental disorders. The magnitude of associations varied from PR = 1.27 to 2.52. The high prevalence of common mental disorders suggests a public health problem among these professionals. Educational systems should provide adequate work conditions and monitor health-related characteristics to prevent common mental disorders among Brazilian elementary school teachers.