Quality of life and teaching work: disparities between what teachers aspire to and what they are able to achieve

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze aspects and habits experienced by teachers at a public high school in Bahia, Brazil, regarding Quality of Life (QOL) and Quality of Work Life (QWL), as well as institutionally imposed situations in the work environment that, aiming to increase productivity as a reflection of the neoliberal context in contemporary capitalist society, reduce QWL. Quantitative data were used to capture aspects of the personal and professional reality of the participants and how they interfere with QWL, including their behaviors and habits that contribute to this end. The instrument used was a questionnaire, specifically designed for this research using Google Forms, which was answered by 32 of the 40 teachers working at the school, who signed the Informed Consent Form. The data obtained were analyzed using numerical graphs generated by the same tool, using absolute and relative frequency distribution. The results indicate an individual effort on the part of most respondents to maintain habits that reflect on their health and, consequently, improve their quality of life, such as physical activity and a healthy diet. However, regarding mental health, the numbers pointed to a reality that demands attention: more than half of those surveyed have been diagnosed with illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and burnout, in addition to using or having used antidepressants and anxiolytics. The data also highlight the difficulty this professional faces in guaranteeing improvements in quality of life on their own, making institutional actions and public policies necessary to reduce workload and, consequently, stress and associated illnesses.