Journal of health research in community

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Barahampoor A, etemadinezhad S, Kalteh H, nikbakht R, ramzani S. Relationship Between Job Demands–Resources and Teachers’ Work Ability With Selection, Optimization, and Compensation Strategies as a Mediator. J Health Res Commun 2026; 12 (1) :22-34
URL: http://jhc.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-1209-en.html

Introduction and Purpose: The fit between individual capabilities and job demands is essential for maintaining employees’ performance and health. Teachers, due to their key role in education and upbringing, require a high level of work ability. This study was conducted to assess work ability among teachers, examine the association between job demands and job resources and work ability, and determine the mediating role of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 310 teachers working in public and non-public primary and secondary schools in Golbahar County selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected through the Work Ability Index (WAI), the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III), and the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) Questionnaire . Descriptive statistics, the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to examine direct and indirect relationships among variables. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 and AMOS software version 24.
Results: No participant was classified as having poor work ability. Overall, 8.4% of teachers had moderate work ability, 43.2% had good work ability, and 48.4% had excellent work ability, indicating that more than 90% of participants were in the good or excellent categories. Significant differences in job demands–resources (JD-R) scores were observed across work ability categories (P=0.047). Post hoc analysis showed that only teachers with good and excellent work ability differed significantly in JDR scores (P=0.024). SOC strategies were significantly and positively associated with work ability (β=0.18, P=0.003). However, the indirect mediating effect of SOC strategies on the relationship between job demands–resources and work ability was not statistically significant in the structural equation model. 
Conclusion: Teachers generally demonstrated favorable levels of work ability. SOC strategies were positively associated with work ability and may contribute to the maintenance of work ability under job-related pressures. Although job demands and job resources were associated with work ability at the descriptive level, their direct and indirect effects were not statistically significant in the structural equation model.