The Impact of Health Anxiety on Voice Health in Teachers

Introduction: Teachers are exposed to prolonged and high-intensity voice use due to their profession, which can lead to voice disorders and functional problems. Health anxiety refers to persistent worry about having or acquiring a serious illness, often out of proportion to the individual’s actual health condition or minor symptoms. This condition becomes a problem that deeply affects not only work performance but also quality of life, especially in teachers who use their voice in a critical way professionally. While previous studies have focused on stress and general anxiety levels in teachers, they have not yet investigated the relationship between health anxiety and perceived vocal handicap. Objective: To examine the relationship between perceived vocal handicap and health anxiety in teachers. Methods: A total of 145 teachers (24 male, 121 female) were included in the study. Participants were asked to fill out the demographic information form, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaires, which were sent electronically via social media platforms. Results: There was a very weak positive correlation between SHAI and VHI-P (physical) scores. There was a very weak negative correlation between age and SHAI scores. There was no statistically significant difference between VHI scores and SHAI; however, the SHAI scores of the group with a VHI score of 19 and above were higher than the other group. Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate a significant correlation between VHI and SHAI scores in teachers. Our findings suggest a potential association between voice problems and higher health anxiety levels in teachers. These provide an important basis for the implementation of holistic intervention programs (such as voice hygiene training and health anxiety management) to protect teacher health.