Occupational burden of musculoskeletal and psychological disorders among government school teachers: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Teachers face sustained cognitive, emotional, and physical demands. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and psychological distress are common and may be interrelated. To estimate the prevalence of MSDs and psychological distress among government school teachers and identify associated factors. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of full-time government school teachers selected using probability-proportional-to-size sampling at the school level. Eligible teachers (≥1 year of service) completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21. We estimated 12-month MSD prevalence in the full sample, summarized body-region prevalence among participants with MSDs, and examined associations using multivariable logistic regression, reporting adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We invited 1350 teachers; 1283 participated (95.0%). The 12-month prevalence of any MSD was 41.5% (532/1283). Among participants with MSDs ( n = 532), lower back (52.8%), neck (48.1%), and shoulders (44.0%) were the most frequently affected regions. In the overall sample, depression, anxiety, and stress were observed in 24.6%, 47.9%, and 24.5%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, MSDs were more likely among female teachers (aOR 4.71), those with 16–20 years of service (aOR 1.93), those with higher body mass index (aOR 2.73–6.16 vs. underweight), and those who were physically inactive (aOR 1.29). Psychological distress was also associated with MSDs: depression (aOR 2.76), anxiety (aOR 3.00), and stress (aOR 4.30). Conclusions: Teachers experience a substantial, overlapping burden of MSDs and psychological distress. Integrated ergonomic and mental-health strategies are justified; however, causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional, self-reported data.