Occupational stress in Australian university staff: Results from a national survey.

TLDR

The study investigates occupational stress among Australian university staff. Data on psychological strain and job satisfaction were collected from nearly 9,000 respondents across 17 universities. Academic staff experienced higher stress than general staff, and staff at newer universities fared worse; overall, self‑reported psychological well‑being correlated strongly with institutional metrics, and financial difficulties at universities are adversely affecting staff well‑being, especially academics. © 2003 Educational Publishing Foundation.

Abstract

This article presents results from a study of occupational stress in Australian university staff. The authors report data on psychological strain and job satisfaction from nearly 9,000 respondents at 17 universities. Academic staff were generally worse off than general staff, and staff in newer universities were worse off than those in older universities. At the aggregate level, selfreport measures of psychological well-being were highly correlated with objective measures of university well-being (investment income, student–staff ratios, and recent cuts in staffing levels and in government operating grants). The authors conclude that the financial difficulties imposed on Australian universities in recent years are having serious consequences for the psychological well-being of their staff, particularly academic staff (faculty). Copyright 2003 by the Educational Publishing Foundation