Abstract

This paper is based on the records of 738 male teachers and 1,684 female teachers employed by Edinburgh Corporation during the academic year September 1, 1954 to July 31, 1955. The amount and distribution of sickness absence has been assessed by age and sex; and comparisons have been made with similar rates in the academic year 1950/51 to determine trends in absence. An interesting feature is that the amount and duration of sickness absence experienced by single and married women teachers is equivalent.

One finding of importance is that in both male and female teachers the highest inception rates for sickness are found at the beginning of a career in teaching. It is suggested that this supplies additional evidence that man's reactions to the situations he encounters in his daily life may affect his internal processes; that man's susceptibility to illness during adult life is, to a large degree, influenced by his relation to the society in which he works. The influence of promotion has been assessed in terms of this hypothesis.