STRESS IN SCHOOLS - PREVALENCE OF HIDDEN PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESSES AMONG JEDDAH SCHOOL WORKERS

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of hidden psy chiatric illnesses (HPI) among Jeddah school teachers and administrato rs using general health questionnaire (GHQ) Subjects and methods: A sa mple of 676 workers from 38 randomly selected governmental and private schools filled out an Arabic version of GWQ. Answers were used to div ide them into cases of HPI and normals. Personal and work environment factors were asked and analysed to measure significant differences bet ween cases and non cases and determine risk factors affecting these il lnesses. Results: Prevalence of HPI was 38.2% among school workers and association was significant with young ages, female sex and singles. Frequency of somatization of complaints was also high such as headache , body ache and sleeping problems. Conclusion and recommendations: The study documented a high rate of HPI and discussed underlying factors of stress among school workers in relation to personal factors of work ers and the work situation. The findings stressed the importance of so cial support strategies for those at risk and the need for further res earch in this occupational stress.