European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context (Jan 2024)

Humanization, Adaptation to Change, and Mental Health in Teachers in Three European Countries

  • María M. Molero,
  • África Martos,
  • María C. Pérez-Fuentes,
  • Begoña M. Tortosa,
  • Maria Sisto,
  • María M. Simón,
  • José J. Gázquez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5093/ejpalc2024a2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 17 – 25

Abstract

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Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between humanization, adaptability to change, and mental health in European teachers (Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian teachers), as well as the relationship between humanization and mental health in teachers through the analysis of the mediating role of adaptability to change. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with teachers from three European countries (Spain, n = 263; Portugal, n = 344; and Italy, n = 287). The Healthcare Professional Humanization Scale (HUMAS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Adaptation to Change Questionnaire (ADAPTA-10) were administered. Results: In all three countries, negative associations were observed between humanization and the presence of problematic symptoms. With respect to the adaptability to change factors, humanization showed negative associations with the emotional factor and positive associations with the cognitive-behavioral factor. Comparative mean analysis revealed differences in humanization, the emotional factor of adaptability to change, and the presence of problematic symptoms. Finally, the mediation models showed the absence of a direct effect in the relationship between humanization and the presence of GHQ-28 symptomatology when it was mediated by the emotional factor (Spanish and Portuguese sample). In the Italian sample, the direct effect of humanization-GHQ-28 symptomatology was significant, with a smaller proportion of the indirect effect of the emotional factor acting as a mediator. On the other hand, when considering the cognitive-behavioral factor as a mediator, the same result was obtained for all three countries: a negative direct effect between humanization and GHQ-28 symptomatology, with no mediation by the cognitive-behavioral factor. Conclusions: The need to improve training in humanization competencies lies in the potential protective function that these competencies can have on the mental health of teachers.

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