Mar 02, 2015 01:33 PM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research suggests that there may be a connection between learning and health.

Researchers at University West and Linnaeus University found that the health of school teachers is related to their level of work integrated learning.

The finding indicates that in order to be healthy, teachers need not only teach -- they must also learn and develop themselves. An ultimate state of learning is characterized by a sensation of flow, which has been described by researchers as a state of complete immersion in an activity in a way that is maximally effective while at the same time highly enjoyable.

According to Yvonne Lagrosen, researcher and associate professor in quality management at University West, a sense of flow implies that the workload is perceived as lower.

"Doing something that you are interested in, gives you a positive stimulation and the workload seems less high. At the same time, the challenge cannot be too big, there must be a balance between the demands and your own control of your work situation," Lagrosen said.

For the study, a random sample of 229 teachers at 20 schools in Västra Götaland responded to a questionnaire which included previously tested measures of health, quality and work integrated learning. The resulting data showed a highly significant statistical correlation between the measures.

In the study, researchers also tested the relationship between an operationalized measure of flow and the health of the teachers and again there were a strong correlation.

"What this research indicates is that to be healthy, we need to constantly learn and develop, in our profession and as people. If we enjoy our work to the extent that we are completely absorbed in it, as in the state of flow, we should have the optimal possibilities for a healthy influence from our work. So find a job that you really enjoy and make sure that you learn and develop at it," said Lagrosen.

The findings are detailed in the International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences.

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