scholarly journals What do we know about University Academics’ Mental Health? A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Urbina

There has been a growing interest on the negative influence that the environment of higher education institutions has on the mental health of academics, and there is evidence to suggest that the university environment is jeopardising academics’ physical and psychological health. This study sought to review the international literature with a view to ascertaining what the most commonly used measures are to investigate this topic, including the main stressors and coping strategies reported/used by academics and their lived experiences. A thorough review of the literature was conducted, and 28 studies were identified and critically analysed. The review concludes that there is compelling evidence that the university environment is triggering high levels of stress and burnout and low levels of wellbeing for academics. There is extremely limited research on the perceptions and lived experiences of academic staff. It is virtually unknown, what coping strategies academics use to face job demands, and our knowledge about burnout, seems to be limited by the use of one particular measure without cultural adaptations.

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097131
Author(s):  
Heloísa Monteiro Amaral-Prado ◽  
Filipy Borghi ◽  
Tânia Maron Vichi Freire Mello ◽  
Dora Maria Grassi-Kassisse

Background: The current situation due COVID-19 may cause an eminent impact on mental health because the confinement restrictions. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare perceived stress, resilience, depression symptoms and coping strategies on the members of University of Campinas, in Brazil, before and during the outbreak of the COVID-19. Methods: Volunteers over 18 years of both sexes, members of the University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil answered instruments related to perceived stress, depression, resilience and coping strategies during final exams at the end of semester during 2018 to 2020. Results: We obtained 1,135 responses (893 before COVID-19 and 242 during COVID-19). The volunteers did not show significant differences for perceived stress, depressive signs and resilience before and during the pandemic. In both periods, men exhibited lower scores for perceived stress and depression and higher scores for resilience when compared to women. Undergraduate and graduate students exhibited higher perceived stress scores, more pronounced depressive signs and lower resilience, and employees and professors presented lower scores for perceived stress, depressive signs and greater resilience. Conclusions: These first months of confinement did not directly affect the scores of perceived stress, depression and resilience, however, each subgroup adapted to the new routine by changing the coping strategy used. This study suggests the importance of monitoring the mental health of member in the university, especially in times of epidemic, in the search for policies that aim to improve the resilience of the population and seek positive and effective coping strategies within the university environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Panshuo Shen ◽  
Paul Slater

The level of stress among academics in higher education institutions has significantly increased over the past decade. Mental health and well-being of academics can be affected once they are exposed to stressful work conditions and use negative coping strategies. This study was set against the backdrop of the pandemic disease, COVID-19, which has challenged the daily work of academics and risen to the various new stressors. This study aims to investigate the current status of occupational stress, coping styles, mental health and emotional well-being of university academics during the COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Ireland, and examine the effect of stress and coping strategies on mental health and emotional well-being. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a sample size of 87 academic staff working in a university in Northern Ireland. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the collected data. The results showed academics experienced moderate stress levels, and distraction behaviours were the most common form of coping mechanism. Academics were in the moderate status of mental health and poor emotional well-being. Occupational stress has a significant effect on mental health and emotional well-being. Positive reframing and acceptance coping styles have an impact on emotional well-being. This study contributes to the understanding of occupational stress, coping strategies, mental health and emotional well-being of academics in higher education in Northern Ireland. The findings can help to develop reliable methods to inform policy on health and well-being for university academics, which in turn lead to increased productivity at work.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-116
Author(s):  
Nathan Smith ◽  
David Keatley ◽  
Gro M. Sandal ◽  
Anders Kjaergaard ◽  
Ollie Stoten ◽  
...  

Expedition teams operating in Polar environments are exposed to a range of environmental, psychological, and social challenges. How a person responds to these demands has implications for their physical and psychological health. In this study, we examined relations between the daily events encountered, coping strategies used, and markers of physical and psychological health in a team of six British Army soldiers (one serving and five reservists) completing a 68-day ski-traverse of the Antarctic continent. In general, daily reports indicated a largely adaptive response to the expedition. There were fluctuations in the events encountered, coping strategies used, and experiences of physical and psychological health throughout the endeavor. Reported daily events and coping strategies explained variability in the positive and negative fluctuations of physical and psychological health. Findings from this study can inform health decision-making of groups operating in Polar environments and others living and working under similar constraints.


2022 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Hassem ◽  
Nicky Israel ◽  
Nabeelah Bemath ◽  
Tarique Variava

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed physiotherapists to unique work-related challenges. However, there is a lack of research regarding the mental health and lived experiences of South African physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.Objectives: To determine levels of mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and resilience and coping strategies used by a sample of South African physiotherapists with and without exposure to patients with COVID-19. Lived work experience, perceived health and sources of support were also explored.Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, mixed-method design was used. Physiotherapists completed an online survey comprising: a demographic questionnaire; scales assessing mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and coping strategies and six open-ended questions. A total of 171 physiotherapists participated in our study, 43.3% of whom were exposed to patients with COVID-19.Results: The exposure group scored significantly higher on self-reported mental health, anxiety, depression and burnout than the non-exposure group. No significant differences were reported for physical health and resilience. Significantly more maladaptive coping strategies were employed by the exposure group. Participants’ lived experiences highlighted similar experiences, as well as work-related challenges. Both groups reported that primary sources of support were significant others, but highlighted the lack of organisational support.Conclusion: Irrespective of the degree of exposure to COVID-19, the mental health and lived experiences of physiotherapists working in South Africa has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.Clinical implications: Understanding physiotherapists’ well-being and lived experiences during the pandemic may guide workplace interventions. Our findings suggest the need for psycho-educational intervention programmes to be implemented at an organisational level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Elena Vladimirovna Kuftyak

<p>The article represents the research, analysed the reviewing of defensive mechanisms and coping strategies in the context of the mental health of pre-school children of different gender. The results obtained through study point to differentiation of psychological defence and coping strategies mechanisms based on gender and the condition of mental health. It is revealed that mentally healthy pre-school age children prefer to use effective and socially upheld coping-strategies, which reduce the pressure through socially upheld behaviour patterns (e.g., through the decent “children’s activity” – play, walk and etc.).  Mentally healthy girls more often focus on overcome the difficulties within themselves. Boys, who have emotional symptoms, as usual prefer the destructive emotional expression strategy, that lets to ease the tension. Boys with the low level of anxiety are oriented to the passive distraction, while girls focus on the social contacts.  Received results can be used for development of psychological prevention of mental health offences programmes</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Guilherme Bagni ◽  
Kauan Galvão Morão ◽  
Renato Henrique Verzani ◽  
Afonso Antonio Machado

INTRODUÇÃO: A avaliação e análise de agentes estressores e enfrentamento de problemas em atletas pode ter um papel importante na compreensão daquilo que é enfrentado por esses atletas no dia-a-dia, além de poder propiciar um aumento na performance esportiva. No caso específico dos atletas universitários, além das dificuldades do mundo esportivo em si, existem as questões que permeiam o ambiente universitário e, muitas vezes sem estrutura, os atletas tem que conciliar essas duas carreiras.OBJETIVO: Analisar as estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas por atletas universitários de esportes de raquete, bem como verificar as situações estressoras enfrentadas pelos mesmos. MÉTODOS: Este estudo de caráter descritivo e quali-quantitivo, utilizou o survey como tipo de pesquisa. Foram analisados 9 atletas universitários de esportes de raquete. Como instrumento, foi utilizado o questionário Estratégias de Modos de Enfrentamento de Problemas. Para a análise dos dados, foi utilizada a estatística descritiva e a análise de conteúdo.RESULTADOS: As estratégias de enfrentamento mais utilizadas pelos atletas foram as focadas no problema e busca por suporte social. Como agentes estressores notou-se a dificuldade na conciliação da carreira esportiva com a vida acadêmica.CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que a maioria dos atletas utiliza estratégias de enfrentamento eficientes e encontra mais dificuldades em conciliar a dupla carreira (aluno-atleta) do que dificuldades esportivas em si. Assim, torna-se necessário uma maior percepção por parte dos gestores do esporte universitário acerca deste tópico, sendo ainda necessário maiores estudos neste tópico, visando auxiliar os atletas e proporcionar um maior rendimento esportivo e acadêmico para os mesmos.ABSTRACT. Stressors and coping in tennis and table tennis college athletes.BACKGROUND: The evaluation and analysis of stressors and coping in athletes can play an important role in understanding what is faced by these athletes on a daily basis, in addition to providing an increase in sports performance. In college athletes, besides the difficulties of the sporting world itself, there are issues that permeate the university environment and, often without structure, athletes have to reconcile these two careers.OBJECTIVE: Analyze the coping strategies used by university athletes of racket sports, as well as to verify the stressful situations faced by them.METHODS: This study has a descriptive and quali-quantitative and qualifying approach and uses survey as a type of research. Nine college racquet sports athletes were analyzed. As a questionnaries, it was uses the Estratégias de Modos de Enfrentamento de Problemas. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. RESULTS: The coping strategies most used by athletes were those focused on the problem and the search for social support. As stressors, it was noted the difficulty in reconciling sports career with academic life.CONCLUSION: It was found that most athletes uses effective coping strategies and have more difficulties to reconcile the dual career (student-athlete) than sports difficulties themselves. Thus, it is necessary to have a greater perception on the part of university sports managers about this topic, and further studies on this topic are necessary, aiming to help athletes and provide them with greater sports and academic performance.


Author(s):  
Ifeanyichukwu Anthony Ogueji ◽  
Samson Femi Agberotimi ◽  
Bolaji Johnson Adesanya ◽  
Taiwo Nurudeen Gidado

Author(s):  
Rachel Stephanie Erskine ◽  
Eilidh MacPhail

Professional experience prompted the initial discussions of the need to identify increased research and further support for academic staff in teaching online with students who have mental health conditions whether these are disclosed or not at the time of application to a distributed university. With the prevalence of mental health conditions increasing in the general population, it stands to reason that increasing numbers of students with mental health conditions are entering higher education. Studying online is different than being in a face-to-face environment and online teaching staff need to have additional skills to be able to individualise their teaching to cater for their students as well as be able to support those with mental health conditions. It is proposed that research among programme leaders, module leaders and personal academic tutors within the University of the Highlands & Islands is undertaken to contribute the academic perspective to supportive policy development within the University for this group of students.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0252075
Author(s):  
Patricia Macía ◽  
Mercedes Barranco ◽  
Susana Gorbeña ◽  
Esther Álvarez-Fuentes ◽  
Ioseba Iraurgi

Considering the importance of psychological variables on health-related processes, this study investigated the role of resilience and coping strategies in relation to health. The aim of this research was to explore the underlying association between these aspects for the better understanding of the effect of psychosocial variables on mental health in cancer. This information could lead to the design of adapted psychological interventions in cancer. Participants with different diagnosis of cancer were recruited (N = 170). They came from the Spanish Association Against Cancer of Biscay. Resilience was measured with the 10 items Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, coping with the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and mental health was measured as a global indicator through the SF-12 and the GHQ-12. A structural equation model (SEM) was conducted to test the effects between the constructs. Results showed that resilience and coping were significantly associated. Results reflected an absence of significant correlation between adaptive and disadaptive coping strategies. Resilience was the factor that most correlated with health outcomes (β = –.45, p < .001). However, disadaptive coping strategies did not correlate with resilience or mental health indicators. Findings in this study underscore the positive contribution of high levels of resilience and an adaptive coping on participants´ level of health. Disadaptive coping strategies did not reflect any positive relation with resilience or health indicators. Thus, promoting resilience and adaptive coping could be a significant goal for psychosocial and educational interventions in people with cancer.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1181-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Montel ◽  
Laurence Albertini ◽  
Claude Desnuelle ◽  
Elisabeth Spitz

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