Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 13 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

An investigation of lifestyle behaviors, mental well-being, and work-related outcomes among female teachers: mixed-methods evidence for occupational health promotion

  • Shereen S. AlSuwaimel1
  • Ali Saad R. Alsubaie1
  1. 1Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Background: Teachers’ health and quality of life are important to school health and education policy. This study examined lifestyle behaviors, mental well-being, satisfaction, and health-related absence among female schoolteachers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A mixed-methods study in the Eastern Province combined a cross-sectional questionnaire completed by 562 female government-school teachers with semi-structured interviews with 19 teachers. Mental well-being was assessed using the WHO-5. Associations were examined using Spearman correlation and multivariable logistic regression. Interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach.

Results: Poor mental well-being (WHO-5 ≤ 50) was reported by 58.4% of teachers, and 24.4% scored ≤28. No moderate-intensity activity was reported by 42.3%; 77.4% of 561 respondents slept six hours or less. Unhealthy foods were consumed several times per week or almost daily by 52.5%; only 29.9% consumed fruit and vegetables daily. Poor or very poor sleep quality was reported by 19.4%, and tobacco use by 3.4%. Overall, 27.9% brushed their teeth less than twice daily, and 52.1% last visited a dentist over two years earlier. Tooth or gum pain at least sometimes during the preceding three months was reported by 61.9%. Sleep quality and duration showed moderate positive correlations with well-being ( r = 0.390 and 0.302, respectively; p < 0.001). Physical activity, dietary behaviors, toothbrushing, and oral pain were also associated with well-being. Higher teaching load was weakly associated with lower satisfaction ( r = −0.098, p = 0.020). Lifestyle and satisfaction scores remained associated with good well-being after adjustment (OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.030–1.073; and 1.035, 95% CI: 1.022–1.048, respectively). Self-rated health also remained associated with good well-being. Lower lifestyle and well-being scores were associated with more health-related absence (all p < 0.05). Five themes described demanding workdays, barriers to healthy routines, emotional strain, work extending into home life, and occupational health concerns.

Conclusion: Unhealthy daily routines and poor mental well-being were common among teachers. These findings support greater attention to teacher health in education policy. School health promotion should include manageable work demands, time for rest, and access to preventive care. Sustained investment in workplace health promotion may support teachers’ well-being and quality of life.

Related

  1. Resilience, lifestyle, and health outcomes in maritime personnel: A pilot investigation in Taiwan
    XY Lin, ML Zou, HW Hsu +5
    The European Journal of Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthPMCEurope PMC
  2. Associations between lifestyle behaviors and traditional Chinese Medicine body constitutions : A cross-sectional study
    Chia-I Tsai, Yi-Ming Chen, Jeng-Sen Tseng +5
    MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Prevalence and associated factors of multiple unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among older adults in Iran: insights from the STEPS 2021 survey
    Shervin Mossavarali, Yosra Azizpour, Sina Azadnajafabad +6
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textCardiovascular medicineCrossref
  4. Lifestyle risk indicators and health promotion priorities among adults with heart failure in Hargeisa Somaliland: a hospital based cross sectional study
    Abdirahman Ali Osman, Vitalis Okath, Abdikarim Mousse Duale +1
    Frontiers in Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Epidemiology & public healthCrossref
  5. Promotion of Tanning Behaviors on Instagram: Content Analysis.
    Tailisha Gonzalez, Grace C Hillyer, Bailey Gold +1
    JMIR dermatologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMCDOAJ

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{alsuwaimel2026investigation,
  title = {{An investigation of lifestyle behaviors, mental well-being, and work-related outcomes among female teachers: mixed-methods evidence for occupational health promotion}},
  author = {Shereen S. AlSuwaimel and Ali Saad R. Alsubaie},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1993916},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1993916/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - An investigation of lifestyle behaviors, mental well-being, and work-related outcomes among female teachers: mixed-methods evidence for occupational health promotion
AU  - Shereen S. AlSuwaimel
AU  - Ali Saad R. Alsubaie
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/22
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1993916
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1993916/full
AB  - Background: Teachers’ health and quality of life are important to school health and education policy. This study examined lifestyle behaviors, mental well-being, satisfaction, and health-related absence among female schoolteachers in Saudi Arabia.  Methods: A mixed-methods study in the Eastern Province combined a cross-sectional questionnaire completed by 562 female government-school teachers with semi-structured interviews with 19 teachers. Mental well-being was assessed using the WHO-5. Associations were examined using Spearman correlation and multivariable logistic regression. Interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach.  Results: Poor mental well-being (WHO-5 ≤ 50) was reported by 58.4% of teachers, and 24.4% scored ≤28. No moderate-intensity activity was reported by 42.3%; 77.4% of 561 respondents slept six hours or less. Unhealthy foods were consumed several times per week or almost daily by 52.5%; only 29.9% consumed fruit and vegetables daily. Poor or very poor sleep quality was reported by 19.4%, and tobacco use by 3.4%. Overall, 27.9% brushed their teeth less than twice daily, and 52.1% last visited a dentist over two years earlier. Tooth or gum pain at least sometimes during the preceding three months was reported by 61.9%. Sleep quality and duration showed moderate positive correlations with well-being ( r = 0.390 and 0.302, respectively; p < 0.001). Physical activity, dietary behaviors, toothbrushing, and oral pain were also associated with well-being. Higher teaching load was weakly associated with lower satisfaction ( r = −0.098, p = 0.020). Lifestyle and satisfaction scores remained associated with good well-being after adjustment (OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.030–1.073; and 1.035, 95% CI: 1.022–1.048, respectively). Self-rated health also remained associated with good well-being. Lower lifestyle and well-being scores were associated with more health-related absence (all p < 0.05). Five themes described demanding workdays, barriers to healthy routines, emotional strain, work extending into home life, and occupational health concerns.  Conclusion: Unhealthy daily routines and poor mental well-being were common among teachers. These findings support greater attention to teacher health in education policy. School health promotion should include manageable work demands, time for rest, and access to preventive care. Sustained investment in workplace health promotion may support teachers’ well-being and quality of life.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -