Page 82 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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avje delovno aktivne populacije | health of the working-age population 80 the knees (38.7%). Sottimano et al. (2018) pointed out that 63.3% of educators
have cervical pain and 67.5% lumbosacral pain. Koch et al. (2015) found aut that
40% of educators have lower back pain, followed by neck and shoulder pain.
Pirbalouti et al. (2017) found that 30.5% of educators have pain in the lower back
and slightly less in the neck and shoulders. With additional analysis, we found
in our sample of educators that the frequency and intensity of lower back pain
were statistically and significantly predominant over other parts of the body.
Although the causes of pain cannot be found exclusively in the work environ-
ment, as they are also influenced by personality and other risk factors, work
in kindergarten still involves quite a few psychosocial (Sottimano et al., 2018;
Converso et al., 2018) and physical (Mayer et al., 2012) risk factors. An analy-
sis of our survey data showed that as many as 67.6% of educators believe that
lower back pain is related to their work, and a good half (52.3%) believe that the
work environment is the cause of upper back pain. Regarding pain in the neck,
shoulders, arms, and knees, however, most educators believe that the cause of
them does not come from the work they do.
In the second part, we determined the level of satisfaction, fatigue, and
experience of stress at work. All three factors are classified as psychosocial risk
factors for MSD (Hauke et al., 2011). The results of the survey showed that as
many as 94.9% of educators are satisfied or very satisfied at work, so we believe
that the factor of satisfaction at work could not be defined as one of the risk fac-
tors for MSD among educators. On the other hand, as many as 70.3% of edu-
cators are occasionally, often, or very often tired at work. Fatigue is shown in a
decrease in efficiency and functionality and in a decrease in work motivation
and an increased feeling of being overloaded. Fatigue can disrupt the function-
ing of biological functions and the mental state of the personality (Balantič et
al., 2016). Therefore, fatigue can also contribute to a greater psychological bur-
den on employees.
In the third part, we determined the frequency and intensity of the phys-
ical activity of educators. Various studies emphasize the importance of physi-
cal exercise and its preventive and curative impact on MSD (Chatzitheodorou
et al., 2007; Erick and Smith, 2013; Kim et al., 2015; Rošker et al., 2014; Voglar
and Šarabon, 2014). We found that 58.0% of educators are often or very often
physically active, and 41.9% are occasionally, rarely, or never physically active.
In the last part, we examined the possible connections between select-
ed risk factors (physical inactivity, stress, fatigue, type of work) with the fre-
quency and intensity of MSD. We found a weak positive association between
the experience of stress and the frequency and intensity of pain in some parts
of the body. We were unable to confirm a negative or positive association be-
tween physical activity and the frequency and intensity of pain. We also failed
to confirm a connection with the type of work or rather the age group of chil-
dren. Given the nature of work in the first age group, which frequently involves
lifting children to changing tables, highchairs, cribs, and generally more assis-
tance in meeting children’s basic needs, we expected educators working in the
have cervical pain and 67.5% lumbosacral pain. Koch et al. (2015) found aut that
40% of educators have lower back pain, followed by neck and shoulder pain.
Pirbalouti et al. (2017) found that 30.5% of educators have pain in the lower back
and slightly less in the neck and shoulders. With additional analysis, we found
in our sample of educators that the frequency and intensity of lower back pain
were statistically and significantly predominant over other parts of the body.
Although the causes of pain cannot be found exclusively in the work environ-
ment, as they are also influenced by personality and other risk factors, work
in kindergarten still involves quite a few psychosocial (Sottimano et al., 2018;
Converso et al., 2018) and physical (Mayer et al., 2012) risk factors. An analy-
sis of our survey data showed that as many as 67.6% of educators believe that
lower back pain is related to their work, and a good half (52.3%) believe that the
work environment is the cause of upper back pain. Regarding pain in the neck,
shoulders, arms, and knees, however, most educators believe that the cause of
them does not come from the work they do.
In the second part, we determined the level of satisfaction, fatigue, and
experience of stress at work. All three factors are classified as psychosocial risk
factors for MSD (Hauke et al., 2011). The results of the survey showed that as
many as 94.9% of educators are satisfied or very satisfied at work, so we believe
that the factor of satisfaction at work could not be defined as one of the risk fac-
tors for MSD among educators. On the other hand, as many as 70.3% of edu-
cators are occasionally, often, or very often tired at work. Fatigue is shown in a
decrease in efficiency and functionality and in a decrease in work motivation
and an increased feeling of being overloaded. Fatigue can disrupt the function-
ing of biological functions and the mental state of the personality (Balantič et
al., 2016). Therefore, fatigue can also contribute to a greater psychological bur-
den on employees.
In the third part, we determined the frequency and intensity of the phys-
ical activity of educators. Various studies emphasize the importance of physi-
cal exercise and its preventive and curative impact on MSD (Chatzitheodorou
et al., 2007; Erick and Smith, 2013; Kim et al., 2015; Rošker et al., 2014; Voglar
and Šarabon, 2014). We found that 58.0% of educators are often or very often
physically active, and 41.9% are occasionally, rarely, or never physically active.
In the last part, we examined the possible connections between select-
ed risk factors (physical inactivity, stress, fatigue, type of work) with the fre-
quency and intensity of MSD. We found a weak positive association between
the experience of stress and the frequency and intensity of pain in some parts
of the body. We were unable to confirm a negative or positive association be-
tween physical activity and the frequency and intensity of pain. We also failed
to confirm a connection with the type of work or rather the age group of chil-
dren. Given the nature of work in the first age group, which frequently involves
lifting children to changing tables, highchairs, cribs, and generally more assis-
tance in meeting children’s basic needs, we expected educators working in the
