Occupational stress in Canadian universities: A national survey.

Abstract

Stress surveys in U.K. and Australian universities demonstrated high occupational stress levels among faculty. This study investigated whether the same occupational stressors and stress outcomes applied at Canadian universities. Randomly selected staff (n ϭ 1440) from 56 universities completed a Web-based questionnaire. The response rate 27%, was similar to those in the U.K. and Australian studies, as were most of the results. With respect to strain, 13% of the respondents reported high psychological distress and 22% reported elevated physical health symptoms. Less secure employment status and work-life imbalance strongly predicted job dissatisfaction; work-life imbalance strongly predicted increased psychological distress. Overall study participants were satisfied with their jobs and emotionally committed to their institutions. These results warrant consideration of contemporary academic work by both academic staff associations and university administrations with respect to the implementation of changes in policies and procedures that might lead to reductions in work-related stress and strain.

An examination of gender differences in the impact of individual and organisational factors on work hours, work-life conflict and psychological strain in academics

“…However, there was no difference in mean levels of work-life conflict reported by men and women. Consistent with the findings of Cantano et al (2010), women in the current study reported significantly higher psychological strain than men. Women also reported higher organisational expectations to work long hours, higher work intensity, higher organisational support, lower work enjoyment and lower job involvement than men.…”

“…For example, Cantano et al (2010) found that female academics had higher levels of work-life conflict than male academics, whereas, Winefield et al (2008) found that male academics reported higher levels of work-life conflict than female academics. Byron (2005) suggested that different factors may influence levels of work-life conflict in men and women, however, no study to date has examined these differences.…”

“…In addition, female academics experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress in comparision with male academics (Cantano et al, 2010;Winefield et al, 2008). Doherty & Manfredi (2006b) have suggested that these higher levels of distress are linked to female academics holding more junior academic positions (Mayer & Tikka, 2008).…”

Effort–reward imbalance and overcommitment in UK academics: implications for mental health, satisfaction and retention

“…Other research indicates that the effort that academics are required to put into their job can engender conflict between work and personal life, which can be a considerable source of distress (Kinman & Jones, 2008;Winefield, Boyd, & Winefield, 2014). Nonetheless, although academic work can be demanding and stressful, there is also evidence that it can be satisfying and rewarding (Bentley et al, 2013;Catano et al, 2010). Factors such as autonomy, variety, role clarity, intellectual challenge, collegiality, contribution to society, respect from colleagues and managers, and the ability to gain self esteem from professional reputation, have been cited as particularly powerful sources of satisfaction for academics (e.g.…”

“…Catano et al, 2010;Coetzee & Rothmann, 2005;Kinman, Jones & Kinman, 2006;Tytherleigh, Webb, Cooper, & Ricketts, 2005;Winefield, Boyd, Saebel, & Pignata, 2008). Research that has tracked the work-related wellbeing of academics working in the United Kingdom (UK) over several years (from 2008 to 2014) suggests that the demands experienced by academics have increased over time and the resources that have traditionally protected them from work-related stress, such as autonomy, support and role clarity, have eroded (Kinman & Wray, 2015).…”