Effort-Reward Imbalance for Learning is Associated with Fatigue in School Children

We examined relationships among fatigue, sleep quality, and effort-reward imbalance for learning in school children. We developed an effort-reward for learning scale in school students and examined its reliability and validity. Self-administered surveys, including the effort reward for leaning scale and fatigue scale, were completed by 1,023 elementary school students (grades 4-6) and 1,361 junior high school students (grades 7-9) at the end of 2006. Effort-reward imbalance for learning was associated with a high incidence of fatigue and sleep problems in elementary and junior high school students of both genders. A good relationship with family was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school boys, and a good relationship with friends was associated with a low fatigue score in junior high school girls by multiple regression analysis. Fatigue score was associated with effort-reward imbalance and fatigue and quality of sleep in schoolchildren. Fatigue may lead to a decline in school performance, negative health outcomes, or refusal to attend school. These results suggest that it is desirable to consider social support, quality of sleep, and effort-reward imbalance when managing fatigue in school children.