Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Maintaining work ability is essential for teachers to remain in the profession for longer periods. This study examines whether work ability can be predicted by work-related and personal factors. METHODS: The data comes from a representative cross-sectional study of German secondary school teachers, which included 10,739 full-time and part-time teachers (68% female, average age: 43 years). Work ability was measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI) and WAI factor 1. The teachers were divided into three age groups: 31-40 (n=4,514), 41-50 (n=3,925) and 51-60 years (n=2,300). The predictability of work ability was analyzed using regression models for the following factors: effort-reward ratio (ER ratio), overcommitment (OC), emotional exhaustion (EE), and age. CHAID analyses were also performed to investigate the complex associations between these variables. RESULTS: In the overall models, the four factors explain 42% (WAI) and 46% (WAI factor 1) of the variance. EE proved to be the most important predictor of work ability, explaining 36% (WAI) and 42% (WAI factor 1) of the variance; ER ratio and OC explained only 15% to 18% of the variance. Age was a significant predictor, but of minor importance. In the CHAID decision tree, teachers with high EE and an ER imbalance (ERI) in the 51-60 age group showed the lowest work ability (WAI: M=33 out of 49 pts, 10%). The best work ability (M=42 out of 49 pts) was found among younger teachers (31-40 years) with a normal ER ratio and normal EE and OC values (18%). For WAI factor 1, the worst mean value (M=19 out of 31 pts) was seen among teachers with high EE and ERI in the 41-60 age group, while the best work ability (M=25 out of 31 pts) was observed among teachers with normal values for EE, ER ratio, and OC in the age group from 31 to 50 years (33% of the sample). CONCLUSION: In occupational health prevention programs, WAI factor 1, EE, and ER ratio are suitable tools for advising teachers on how to maintain their work ability.