A comparasion of special education and rehabilitation center employees with respect to job satisfaction effect on general mental health level in terms of expertise

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the job satisfaction of the employees of a special education and rehabilitation center for the handicapped on their general mental health and to inspect the role of branch in the impact of job satisfaction over mental health. Teachers, psychologists and physiotherapists working actively in special education and rehabilitation centers for the handicapped operating under Ministry of National Education in academic year 2014-2015 were chosen as the sample group for the study. Participants completed a 75 question survey. Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire was used for job satisfaction and Brief Symptom Inventory was used for evaluating general mental health levels. Each center was personally visited and the aims of the research has been explained, education staff of volunteering centers were included in the sample. Sample group consisted of 554 persons, broken down into 339 females and 214 males. Of the participants, 45% were Special Education Teachers, 25,7 were child development teachers, 15.7% were Psychological Support Group, 12% were Physically Handicapped Support Group and 2% were teachers for other handicapped persons. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The scales used in the study were tested for reliability and factor analysis was conducted. Furthermore, regression analysis was employed to test the validity and predictive power of the research model. T-test and ANOVA were used to inspect whether demographic factors constitute intergroup differences on dependent and independent variables. Analyses revealed that job satisfaction correlates to mental health. Results supporting that this correlation differs on branch basis. Furthermore, of the demographic factors, sex is found to correlate with job satisfaction and marital status, position, having a chronic disease and using medication are found to correlate to mental health; economic wellbeing and willingly selecting the degree of undergraduate studies are found to correlate to both job satisfaction and mental health. Suggestions have been listed for the centers and researchers in light of the results of the study. Key Words : Mental Health, Job Satisfaction, Special Education, Branch, Psychologist, Teacher, Physiotherapist