Voice disorders and mental health in teachers: a cross-sectional nationwide study

International audienceBACKGROUND:Teachers, as professional voice users, are at particular risk of voice disorders. Among contributing factors, stress and psychological tension could play a role but epidemiological data on this problem are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence and cofactors of voice disorders among teachers in the French National Education system, with particular attention paid to the association between voice complaint and psychological status.METHODS:The source data come from an epidemiological postal survey on physical and mental health conducted in a sample of 20,099 adults (in activity or retired) selected at random from the health plan records of the national education system. Overall response rate was 53%. Of the 10,288 respondents, 3,940 were teachers in activity currently giving classes to students. In the sample of those with complete data (n = 3,646), variables associated with voice disorders were investigated using logistic regression models. Studied variables referred to demographic characteristics, socio-professional environment, psychological distress, mental health disorders (DSM-IV), and sick leave.RESULTS:One in two female teachers reported voice disorders (50.0%) compared to one in four males (26.0%). Those who reported voice disorders presented higher level of psychological distress. Sex- and age-adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence interval] were respectively 1.8 [1.5-2.2] for major depressive episode, 1.7 [1.3-2.2] for general anxiety disorder, and 1.6 [1.2-2.2] for phobia. A significant association between voice disorders and sick leave was also demonstrated (1.5 [1.3-1.7]).CONCLUSION:Voice disorders were frequent among French teachers. Associations with psychiatric disorders suggest that a situation may exist which is more complex than simple mechanical failure. Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify the comorbidity between voice and psychological disorders

Understanding the process of social modernization. Design, profiles and scope of a database; registers and the Basque Country, 1825-1975

Uno de los retos que ocupan a la historiografía contemporánea consiste en tratar de iluminar las claves de su proceso modernizador. Ello requiere cumplir con unos requisitos básicos: disponer de un andamiaje teórico apropiado, optar por un escenario representativo y contar con un corpus documental adecuado y suficiente. A este respecto, el País Vasco ofrece un marco atrayente: relativamente precoz, y plural en sus ritmos, modelos y protagonismos. La mirada se posa en la construcción del marco urbano y en sus protagonismos colectivos: evolución demográfica, comportamientos familiares, estructura de la población activa o formación del capital humano. En este escenario, la rica información de los padrones municipales los convierte en fuente insustituible, pero su simple existencia como documento resulta insuficiente. A partir de aquí se impone la laboriosa tarea de construir una base de datos dotada de sentido y sobre la que sustentar un discurso coherente.One of the challenges that occupy contemporary historiography is to try to illuminate the keys to its modernization process. This requires comply basic requirements: have an appropriate theoretical framework, opt for a representative scenario and have an adequate and sufficient documentary corpus. In this regard, the Basque Country offers an attractive framework: relatively early, and plural in its rhythms, patterns and limelight. The gaze falls on the construction of the urban context and in their collective limelight: demographic, family behavior, structure of the labor force or human capital formation. In this scenario, the rich information of the municipal registers makes them irreplaceable source, but its mere existence as a document is insufficient. From here the laborious task of building a database endowed with meaning and which support a coherent discourse prevail

Hacia la comprensión de los procesos de modernización social. Diseño, perfiles y alcance de una base de datos: padrones y País Vasco, 1825-1975

One of the challenges that occupy contemporary historiography is to try to illuminate the keys to its modernization process. This requires comply basic requirements: have an appropriate theoretical framework, opt for a representative scenario and have an adequate and sufficient documentary corpus. In this regard, the Basque Country offers an attractive framework: relatively early, and plural in its rhythms, patterns and limelight. The gaze falls on the construction of the urban context and in their collective limelight: demographic, family behavior, structure of the labor force or human capital formation. In this scenario, the rich information of the municipal registers makes them irreplaceable source, but its mere existence as a document is insufficient. From here the laborious task of building a database endowed with meaning and which support a coherent discourse prevailsUno de los retos que ocupan a la historiografía contemporánea consiste en tratar de iluminar las claves de su proceso modernizador. Ello requiere cumplir con unos requisitos básicos: disponer de un andamiaje teórico apropiado, optar por un escenario representativo y contar con un corpus documental adecuado y suficiente. A este respecto, el País Vasco ofrece un marco atrayente: relativamente precoz, y plural en sus ritmos, modelos y protagonismos. La mirada se posa en la construcción del marco urbano y en sus protagonismos colectivos: evolución demográfica, comportamientos familiares, estructura de la población activa o formación del capital humano. En este escenario, la rica información de los padrones municipales los convierte en fuente insustituible, pero su simple existencia como documento resulta insuficiente. A partir de aquí se impone la laboriosa tarea de construir una base de datos dotada de sentido y sobre la que sustentar un discurso coherente