Wellbeing In Higher Education Research Articles

Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity

Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity

The influence of kindness on academics' identity, well-being and stress.

The well-being of people working and studying in higher education, including students, staff, and faculty, is a topic of increasing concern. The lack of well-being may be attributed to the current academic context, which does not consistently provide cues that affirm social inclusion to all members of the academic population. This study examines the role of kindness (defined as actions that affirm dignity and social inclusion) in promoting identification with community and well-being in higher education utilizing a cross-sectional study of 182 diverse members of higher education. To assess the extent that kindness relates to the acquisition of institutional identity, well-being, and stress, we developed and validated two novel psychometric rating scales for kindness: Kindness Received (α = 0.927, ώ = .921) and Kindness Given (α = .859, ώ = .860). Initial analysis showed that receiving kindness was significantly associated with increased well-being, reduced stress, and improved institutional identity. Giving kindness was significantly associated with decreased stress reduction and decreased institutional identity. Results from structural equation modeling shows that institutional identity mediates the relationship between receiving kindness and well-being. Qualitative analysis of micronarratives regarding kindness showed that feeling safe and being acknowledged are the most commonly described experiences of kindness, both acts that affirm dignity. The findings from this study suggests that kindness contributes towards improving diverse people's well-being and increased identification with institutions of higher education. Measurement of kindness provides methods for assessing institutional changes that foster greater positivity and inclusion in higher education settings.

Nurturing the Faculty: Training for Excellence and Growth

"The impact of teacher education and wellbeing on higher education: a critical analysis" is one of the primary topics of the research. The well-being and ongoing education of faculty and staff are crucial for the advancement of higher education and significantly contribute to the achievements of both faculty and students. In this paper, we have explored the significance of providing training opportunities and prioritizing the wellbeing of faculty members.The significance of teacher training in higher education is paramount as it guarantees that educators are well-informed about contemporary teaching techniques, technological advancements, and the latest research findings. In a constantly evolving educational landscape, ongoing professional development is crucial to guarantee that teachers can offer the highest quality education to their students. Exciting challenges among educators in higher education frequently encounter stress and pressure as a result of demanding workloads, intense research, various responsibilities, and job searches. Failing to prioritize health can result in reduced job satisfaction, psychological issues, and the loss of teaching and research opportunities.It is crucial to find a balance between faculty and health in order to ensure the success of higher education institutions. It's not sufficient to solely concentrate on one aspect. Failing to prioritize education can result in a chaotic teaching environment, while neglecting health can lead to teacher exhaustion. Training and wellbeing are closely linked, as training equips educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach and conduct research, while wellbeing ensures they can maintain their efforts in the long run. "Faculty training and wellbeing in higher education: a crucial balancing act" is a subject that requires the attention of higher education institutions, policy-makers, and educators themselves. Striking the right balance between training and wellbeing can result in a more productive, innovative, and compassionate higher education system that benefits both faculty members and students. It's a challenge worth tackling for the improvement of academia.

EPortfolio practice for student well-being in higher education: A scoping review

The aim of the study was to map and assess published empirical studies on the contribution of ePortfolio practice to student wellbeing in higher education. Our leading research question was: What is known in the existing literature on the wellbeing outcomes of ePortfolio practice in higher education? A scoping review was conducted to identify affective outcomes of ePortfolio pedagogy. The review included 23 papers. Six thematic groupings around student well-being were identified among the included papers: ePortfolios for achieving human potential, ePortfolios leading to self-awareness, ePortfolios enhancing identity formation, ePortfolios supporting connectedness, ePortfolios fostering self-regulation, ePorfolios as stressors.

Effects of Study-Integrated Well-Being Course Intervention for Different Burnout and Engagement Profiles of University Students

As the increase in university students’ mental health problems poses significant challenges to education, new research-based ways to support students’ well-being in higher education are urgently needed. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been shown to be effective in enhancing different aspects of well-being in a variety of contexts. Although study burnout has been shown to have detrimental impacts on students’ well-being and studying, not much is known about the person-oriented features of burnout risk in relation to ACT-based intervention outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an online ACT-based course on different aspects of university students’ well-being and study ability in latent groups of students that had different levels of study burnout and engagement at the beginning of the intervention. The results of latent profile analysis (LPA) showed that students (N=352) represented four profiles at the beginning of the course: indifferent (37.8%), engaged (29%), engaged-inefficacious (13.6%), and burned-out (19.6%). The results of mixed ANOVA with repeated measures showed that psychological flexibility, well-being, study engagement and organised studying increased, and study burnout risk decreased in the whole sample of course-participating students. The changes in students’ exhaustion, well-being, psychological flexibility, and organised studying did not differ between the four burnout and engagement profiles. The profiles differed in the changes of cynicism, inadequacy and engagement. The results of this study provide new knowledge of the person-oriented features of study burnout and indicate that ACT-based course interventions can be effective in enhancing different profiles representing university students’ well-being.

Neo-Liberalism’s Shadows: Modern slavery in South African Higher Education

Neoliberal ideology globally prioritises competition and productivity over staff well-being in higher education, leading to exploitative practices and heightened stress among academic faculty, culminating in what can be termed modern academic slavery. This study investigates the contemporary impact of neoliberalism on South African universities, focussing on governance, funding and academic freedom, and how these factors contribute to deteriorating conditions for academic staff and toxic work environments. This research examines academic experiences in a South African urban higher education institution (HEI) utilizing a single-case study approach. It examines their context within institutional and societal trends. Using a single-case ideographic approach in a South African HEI, the study utilises detailed documentation, incident analysis and literature review to understand academic enslavement within the chosen HEI, contextualising the academic’s experiences within these broader institutional and societal trends. The findings reveal four key themes: moral disengagement, corporate malfeasance, exploitative labour practices, and labour coercion, illustrating the widespread exploitation of academic staff. The study advocates for urgent interventions to ensure respectful treatment, foster ethical work environments, and address disparities between administrators and faculty. It calls for autonomy, ethical leadership and a culture of inquiry in HEIs to combat modern academic slavery while acknowledging the need for further action and exploration.Contribution: This study underscores the current impact of neoliberalism on higher education in South Africa, exposing challenges for academic staff and advocating systemic reforms. It emphasises the necessity for future investigations into institutional accountability and strategies to enhance staff well-being in HEIs.

A systematic review of peer support interventions for student mental health and well-being in higher education - CORRIGENDUM.

A systematic review of peer support interventions for student mental health and well-being in higher education - CORRIGENDUM.

The impact of family factors and digital technologies on mental health in university students.

A substantial body of research indicates an increasing prevalence of mental health issues among university students in a range of countries. A number of psychosocial factors have been put forward in the research literature as possible explanations for this persistent decline in psychological wellbeing in higher education. The present study focused on the role of family factors and the use of digital technologies by students. A replication study was conducted at the University of the Americas (Chile) based on a previous study on psychosocial factors of academic learning patterns and mental health of university students at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Spain. A cross-sectional design was employed, using the same questionnaire, plus indicators of most frequently used digital technologies by the students. The questionnaire was administered online at the same time to all incoming students, gathering a sample of 4,523 students. A series of multiple regressions and ANOVAs was conducted to ascertain the extent to which family and digital factors could be identified as predictors of mental health indicators. The most significant findings indicate that high levels of parental protection and control/discipline, and especially the high use of social media and smartphones, are particularly salient factors contributing to mental health problems in the learning process of higher education students. The results suggest strategies to promote wellbeing, with a focus on the psychosocial diversity within an inclusive university community. Social and digital innovation, collective entrepreneurship, and participatory place-building may facilitate networks of artistic, cultural, ecological, and sports spaces to promote the sense of university community. A longitudinal follow-up on the same sample across academic years will reveal the extent to which these wellbeing initiatives are fruitful.

Choosing to learn: The importance of student autonomy in higher education.

Despite strong evidence that autonomy enhances motivation and achievement, few interventions for promoting student autonomy in higher education have been developed and empirically tested. Here, we demonstrate how two autonomy-supportive policies effectively increase classroom attendance and subject mastery. First, in a randomized controlled field study, we explored the effect of allowing students to choose whether to make their attendance mandatory (i.e., a component of their course grades). We found that nearly all students used the opportunity as a pre-commitment device and were subsequently more likely to attend class than were students whose attendance had been mandated. Second, in a multi-year cohort study, we explored the effect of allowing students to opt out of a challenging, high-effort assessment stream, finding that students given greater autonomy invested more effort into their assignments and attained greater proficiency with the material. We discuss other opportunities for applying choice architecture to improve learning, motivation, and well-being in higher education.

Wellbeing in the higher education sector: A qualitative study of staff perceptions in UK universities

The Higher Education (HE) sector is beset with mental ill-health, stress and burnout, negatively impacting staff productivity and retention. These challenges are due to a reduction in financial support for HE coupled with a growing number of students and increased workloads, as evidenced by recent strike actions in the UK. While research on mental ill-health in HE is extensive, our understanding of wellbeing in higher education is limited. Yet understanding wellbeing in the workplace can foster positive experiences and resilience, counteracting more negative experiences. This paper presents findings from 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews with employees (academic and professional staff) in UK universities to understand staff perceptions of wellbeing and the impact of the HE context. Five themes were identified: (1) factors contributing to staff wellbeing, such as colleague support; (2) fragility and duality of staff wellbeing, on how wellbeing can be damaged as well as its changing nature; (3) the dichotomy of collegial peer and organizational support, on university and staff actions toward wellbeing; (4) outsider from within, on an experienced lack of belonging; and (5) creativity and growth, on opportunities for staff development. Gaps in our understanding of Black, Asian, Minority, and Ethnic staff experiences were also identified. Implications for bolstering wellbeing in practice and future research are discussed.

Barriers and Facilitators of International Healthcare Students' Well-being in Higher Education: Protocol for A Systematic Integrative Review (Preprint)

Barriers and Facilitators of International Healthcare Students' Well-being in Higher Education: Protocol for A Systematic Integrative Review (Preprint)

Indigenous youth wellbeing in higher education: a systematic literature review of qualitative studies

ABSTRACT Completing a higher education degree is a game changer for the success of Indigenous youth. However, there is a paucity of research which explores the enablers of and barriers to Indigenous higher education youth (18–25 years) wellbeing. This systematic literature review aimed to explore the nature and scope of international research that engages with Indigenous youth to identify the enablers of and barriers to youth’s wellbeing when undertaking higher education. Twenty-eight studies met our selection criteria. Major enablers of youth’s wellbeing included social connections and support. Barriers included: lack of culturally appropriate support, home sickness, financial stress and negotiating with family. These findings have highlighted a significant gap in research and practice and point to the importance of hearing Indigenous higher education youth’s voices for identifying salient strategies for respectful promotion of wellbeing in higher education.

Humanizing Higher Education via Digital Wellbeing with Spiritual Construct

The field of digital wellbeing is gaining importance in higher education because of the global push for digital transformation in this sector. While most research has focused on mental, physical, social, and emotional aspects of digital wellbeing in higher education, there has been little exploration of the spiritual dimension. This paper aims to address this gap by discussing the significance of spiritual wellbeing and its role in promoting digital wellbeing in higher education. The paper emphasizes the importance of incorporating spiritual wellbeing in research and educational practices to achieve sustainable development. In conclusion, incorporating spiritual wellbeing as an indicator of digital wellbeing in higher education can benefit students and promote a holistic approach to wellbeing.

Enhancing Psychological Well-being in Higher Education Post-Covid-19 Pandemic. The Role of AI-Based Support Systems—Bibliometric Reviews

Psychological well-being is a cornerstone of student success in higher education. However, many students struggle with mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression during and even after the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges, often stemming from academic, personal, social, or career concerns, negatively impact student learning and development. This underscores the need for robust support systems within higher education (HE). Artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a promising field in educational technology, offering students readily available guidance on their path to well-being. This research, guided by the PRISMA Statement 2015, provides an overview of AI applications in higher education through a systematic review. From an initial pool of 270 publications identified between year 2021 and 2023, finally, 24 articles met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed for the final synthesis. This paper revealed three key areas where AI-based systems can support student well-being: i) AI’s Advancement and Potential: Exploring the evolving capabilities and promise of AI in this context. ii) Building Effective AI Systems: Identifying crucial components for successful AI-based well-being interventions. iii) Barriers to Implementing AI in Higher Education: Addressing ethical considerations and challenges unique to academic settings. The conclusions and the road ahead from this research is the critical need for ethical, well-designed AI-based systems to overcome existing barriers and deliver exceptional student well-being support services. By prioritizing student mental health and providing them with the necessary tools and resources, we can empower them to achieve their full potential and thrive in their academic endeavors.

University students’ stress and burnout risk: results of an ACT-based online-course using self-assessments and HRV-measurements

To answer to the need to find effective study-integrated ways to support university students’ well-being, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) -based online course intervention was conducted with quasi-experimental waiting-list control group design. Our aim with this study was to provide new knowledge of the relations and changes in students’ self-assessed and physiological indicators of well-being and study ability during the course. Participating students (N = 68) completed self-assessments of psychological flexibility, organised study skills, study-related burnout risk, and perceived stress, and part of them (n = 35) participated in heart rate variability (HRV) measurements at the beginning and the end of the course. The results showed that students’ psychological flexibility and organised study skills increased, as study-related burnout risk decreased in the intervention group with significant Time x Group interaction effects compared to the waiting-list control group. Students’ perceived stress decreased in the intervention group, but the Time x Group interaction was not significant. The Time x Group interaction effects of HRV measurements were not statistically significant. The findings of this study indicate that study-integrated ACT-based online course can be effective in supporting university students’ psychological flexibility and organised studying and reducing burnout risk, thus contributing to highly needed research on ways to enhance students’ well-being in higher-education.

Inclusion or Isolation? Differential Student Experiences of Independent Learning and Wellbeing in Higher Education

Independent learning is frequently identified as instrumental to student success within higher education. Although there is a significant body of literature demonstrating the importance of independent learning for retention and progression, to date, the relationship between independent learning and student wellbeing within higher education has been under-explored. This article addresses the gap in the literature by interrogating this relationship, with a particular emphasis on the barriers and enablers to independent learning and the implications for the wellbeing of university students as part of a whole university approach. Drawing on data from a large national student survey and nine focus groups with university staff conducted during the formulation of the University Mental Health Charter, the findings demonstrate important intersectionalities between independent learning and student wellbeing. In particular, they highlight that facilitating independent learning has the potential to allow students to flourish in higher education but only when factors relating to accessibility, inclusivity, expectations, and goals are explicitly addressed. Going forward, it is imperative that these links are more widely acknowledged and addressed within higher education research, policy, and practice to ensure that students are supported to develop as learners during both their transition into university and their journey through and beyond their studies.

Student psychological well-being in higher education: The role of internal team environment, institutional, friends and family support and academic engagement.

Psychological well-being of students is an area of concern in higher education institutes across the world. Although several studies have explored the factors associated with students' psychological well-being, limited research has focused on the relation between the overall support for students and psychological well-being. Students of higher education may get formal support, in the form of team environment and institutional support; and informal support, in the form of family and friends' support. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of these four kinds of support with psychological well-being of management students. We also examine the intervening role of academic engagement in this relationship. Analysis using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression on data collected from 309 management students from Indian universities, shows that positive internal team environment, and institutional and family support positively relate to students' psychological well-being. Academic engagement partially mediates the relation between positive internal team environment and psychological well-being, and family support and psychological well-being. Also, academic engagement fully mediates the relation between institutional support and psychological well-being. The study highlights the significance of internal team environment and institutional support for students' academic engagement and psychological well-being, and the role of academic engagement in determining well-being. Based on these findings, we suggest interventions that can be undertaken by educational institutions to enhance psychological well-being of students. Theoretical implications and research avenues are discussed.

Embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum: a collaborative definition and suite of examples in practice

The sector-wide challenge of student mental wellbeing within higher education (HE) requires universities to systematically and holistically enhance their practice and approaches. This paper recounts how an interdisciplinary team of academics, senior leaders, professional services and Students’ Union representatives across seven institutions responded to this need by collaboratively identifying definitions, good-practice for replication, and benefits of activity to embed mental wellbeing in the curriculum. Considering and exploring definitions across HE, our study provides clarity and reference points for definitions, particularly around the nature of “embedding” in relation to mental wellbeing for students. Five core themes for mental wellbeing in HE were identified and defined through this study: flourishing or thriving, balance, community and belonging, dynamic, and inclusive. Furthermore, a five-point definition of embeddedness developed; it being modeled in practice, tailored to needs, inherent in values, ethos and culture, a holistic partnership approach, and represented in strategy supported by appropriate resource. These are represented as a Mental Wellbeing Embeddedness Framework. The study sought good-practice examples from across seven HE providers, presented as example resources for replication by others in the sector seeking to address similar challenges within their institutions. Twenty-seven examples were developed into an online open educational resource toolkit, providing clear examples for use in a range of settings and responding to different needs around student mental wellbeing. Each example sharing its original rationale for development and clear list of benefits to be seen from replicating the initiative. Sector feedback to date indicates referencing the definitions activity and expanding this for use in other contexts, replication of good-practice examples in different settings, and support for identification of the benefits that can be achieved from embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum. This paper is a call to action, shaping the future direction of student mental wellbeing, supported by policy, practice, and constant innovation.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Wellbeing in Higher Education.

Lockdown restrictions and social distancing regulations enforced by governments worldwide to prevent COVID-19 transmission have caused momentous disruption to the global education sector. Educators and students across all institutions and levels had to suddenly adapt to a new reality where in-person teaching was replaced by hybrid or remote learning activities. This chapter aims to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on teaching, learning and assessment in higher education. It discusses the challenges presented by the shift to online teaching and the pedagogical strategies developed to foster student engagement and assess their progress in a remote learning setting. Moreover, this chapter explores the impact of the pandemic on wellbeing and mental health of students and academic staff. The last section draws on the lessons learned from the pandemic to identify areas of good practice that are likely to positively shape the post-pandemic higher education panorama.

Phenomenology of Student Wellbeing in Higher Education: Challenges and Strategies

The present qualitative study explores challenges that influence student wellbeing and possible strategies to handle these challenges. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with university students from the faculty of sports sciences in a foundation university. The researchers applied phenomenological approach through snowballing and purposeful sampling. The findings reveal five main challenges that impact wellbeing of students negatively. These are loneliness, academic pressure, anxiety about uncertainties, lack of facilities and financial difficulties. The research also highlighted five main strategies to maximize wellbeing. These are time management, stress-relief techniques, cultivating a growth mindset, academic support mechanisms, and having a part-time job. The research underlines the importance of pointing out challenges of student wellbeing and applying efficient strategies to boost it. If universities address these challenges in a comprehensive perspective, it is more likely to create a more conducive environment for students who want to be engaged academically and emotionally.