University professors’ mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and distance teaching

Title

University professors’ mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and distance teaching

Description

BACKGROUND:

Strict strategies including lockdowns and working from home were adopted worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. University professors suddenly shifted to work from home adopting distance teaching.

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to investigate Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and its associated occupational and health factors during COVID-19 among university professors.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional design targeted university professors of all majors in Jordan. The study self-administered survey included demographics and lifestyle data, 12-item Short Form health survey (SF-12), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21), professor’ evaluation of distance teaching, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Descriptive analyses were conducted to demonstrate primary outcome measures data. Factors associated with HRQoL were determined using a multiple variable linear regression analysis.

RESULTS:

A total of 299 university professors successfully completed the study. Participants’ SF-12 physical health component score was 74.08 (±18.5) and 65.74 (±21.4) for mental health component. Higher depression, stress, neck disability, and weight change were significantly associated with lower HRQoL level. While higher satisfaction with distance teaching, health self-evaluation, and work load change were significantly associated with higher HRQoL level. The regression model explained 66.7%of the variance in professors’ HRQoL (r2 = 0.667, F = 82.83, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Jordanian university professors demonstrated good HRQoL and mental health levels during COVID-19 lockdown. Factors associated with professors’ HRQoL should be considered by academic institutions in determining the best occupational setup of teaching activities in future pandemics.

Fresno State author

Nupur Hajela

Department

Physical Therapy

Format

article

Full text

https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205276

Citation Info

Almhdawi, K. A., Obeidat, D., Kanaan, S. F., Hajela, N., Bsoul, M., Arabiat, A., Alazrai, A., Jaber, H., & Alrabbaie, H. (2021). University professors’ mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and distance teaching. Work, 69(4), 1153–1161. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205276

UN Sustainable Development Goal

Good Health and Well-being

Files

wor205276-1.jpg

Citation

“University professors’ mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and distance teaching,” Outstanding Faculty Publications, accessed April 28, 2024, https://facpub.library.fresnostate.edu/items/show/279.