Workload, chronic pain, and mental health among university teachers in China

Background : University teachers in China face immense academic workload, which consequently gives rise to health issues. This study aimed to explore the effects of workload on the psychological health of university teachers and to explain why these effects occur using chronic pain as a mediator. Methods: A total of 451 university teachers were surveyed in three second-tier universities in Sichuan Province in 2024 using paper-pencil-based questionnaires. Workload, mental health, and chronic pain were assessed. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analyses were used to test the mediation model and hypothesis. Results : The university teachers had relatively high levels of workload (M=3.27) and low levels of mental health (M=2.95). The prevalence of chronic pain in various body regions was as follows: shoulder (45.68%), neck (41.46%), low back (36.36%), head (33.26%), and abdomen (31.49%). Linear regression analyses showed that workload significantly predicted mental health ( β =-0.474, p <0.01) and chronic pain ( β =0.517, p <0.01). When workload was controlled for, chronic pain significantly predicted mental health ( β =-0.162, p <0.01) , indicating that chronic pain can mediates the relationship between workload and mental health. in addition, physical exercise is associated with both chronic pain ( β =-0.206, p <0.01) and mental health ( β =0.113, p <0.01), lastly, the rank of associate professor is negatively associated with mental health ( β =-0.094, p <0.01) with lecture title serving as the reference group. Conclusions: The mediation model was well supported, and chronic pain mediates the relationship between workload and mental health among university teachers.