Publication date: Jul 03, 2025
The intensification of teaching work, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, raises questions about professors’ health. RESPIRA is a Brazilian prospective cohort study conducted to investigate daytime sleepiness, the predisposition to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), psychosocial aspects, physical activity and quality of life in professors, with six-month and 12-month follow-up assessments. A total of 954 professors from public higher education institutions in Brazil were included at baseline from May to December 2022. Daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), predisposition to obstructive sleep apnea (Stop-Bang questionnaire), psychosocial aspects (COPSOQ II-Br), physical activity level (IPAQ-short version) and quality of life (WHOQOL-bref) were investigated, and descriptive analysis was performed. The largest portions of the professors were male (52%), residents of the state of ScE3o Paulo (24%), public servants (97%) and most had a PhD (89%). Around 30% had excessive daytime sleepiness and 40% had intermediate to high risk for OSA predisposition. Most professors were at risk due to stress (64%), burnout (63%), emotional work demands (51%) and work-family conflict (46%). Regarding physical activity level, 39% were categorized as active and 59% were overweight/obese. ‘Social relationships’ was the most affected domain of quality of life (62%); ‘sexual activity’ (3. 16 +/- 1. 09), ‘sleep and rest’ (3. 20 +/- 1. 07) and ‘participation in and opportunities for recreation/leisure activities’ (3. 24 +/- 0. 88) were the most compromised facets. The baseline data suggest the need to recognize and address psychological distress and sleep disorders in the teaching population at public higher education institutions in Brazil. The findings also highlight the importance of strategies for promoting opportunities for leisure and rest as well as the need to ensure adequate sleep, weight, sexual satisfaction and mental health.
