Examining the Factors Impacting Academics’ Psychological Well-Being: A Review of Research

Abstract

Existing research suggests that academics are subjected to high levels of job-related stress. Numerous aspects of an academic career such as time constraint, work overload, work-life conflict, and emotional demands are stressful and trigger negative emotional responses. There is further evidence to suggest that job-related stress compromises physical and psychological well-being, and impairs productivity among academics. The purpose of the present paper was to review the empirical research on how work-related stress and experiences impact academics’ psychological well-being. Accordingly, a thorough review of the literature was conducted and 46 studies attending to aspects of psychological well-being were identified and analyzed. The literature was found to be fragmented. The review concludes that job-related stress and specific types of experiences adversely impact academics’ psychological well-being by making them vulnerable to psychological distress, negative emotions, depression, and burnout. Implications for improving psychological well-being among academics are addressed and directions for future research are proposed.