Abstract
Well-being issues for staff in the HE sector have become more pronounced and more recognised. In this chapter, we focus mainly on the experience of stress and how this relates to women working in higher education, including their working conditions and career progression and satisfaction. Our study collected quantitative and qualitative data relating to workload, stress and coping, support from line managers and colleagues and work-life conflict. The data analysis suggests that women are experiencing a significant amount of stress, which is indicated by them not confidently saying they felt on top of things or that they were unaffected by negative work-related emotions. Academic women reported more stress on average than professional services women, mainly due to their working hours and the work-life conflict associated with that. Those who had worked longer outside HE tended to report slightly less stress. Work conflict with home life and, to a lesser extent, home conflict with work life seemed to be the main routes through which stress was experienced. Support from line managers and colleagues played only a small part in stress reduction. Other factors related to well-being and stress—including work conditions, career experiences and workplace practices—are analysed and discussed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adebiyi, R. A. (2013). Occupational stress among academic staff of Ekiti State University. European Scientific Journal, 9(4), 202–208.
Antoniou, A., & Mitsopoulou, E. (2017). Coping strategies and personality dimensions of teachers in primary and secondary education. In A.-S. Antoniou & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Coping, personality and the workplace: Responding to psychological crisis and critical events (pp. 223–238). Routledge.
August, L., & Waltman, J. (2004). Culture, climate, and contribution: Career satisfaction among female faculty. Research in Higher Education, 45, 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RIHE.0000015694.14358.ed
Azila-Gbettor, E. M., Atatsi, E. A., Dodor, C. T., Clarkson, T., Adade, D. K. T., & Neequaye, K. (2017). Work stress and performance of faculty members of a Ghanaian Technical University. International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management, 4(10), 38–49.
Babcock, L., Recalde, M. P., Vesterlund, L., & Weingart, L. (2017). Gender differences in accepting and receiving requests for tasks with low promotability. American Economic Review, 107(3), 714–747. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20141734
Ballenger, J. (2010). Forum on public policy women’s access to higher education leadership: Cultural and structural barriers. Stephen F. Austin State University.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2007). The job demands-resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Bandura, A. (1990). Perceived self-efficacy in the exercise of personal agency. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2(2), 128–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413209008406426
Barnes, N., & O’Hara, S. (1999). Managing academics on short-term contracts. Higher Education Quarterly, 53(3), 229–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2273.00128
Bentley, P. J., & Kyvik, S. (2013). Individual differences in faculty research time allocations across 13 countries. Research in Higher Education, 54, 329–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-012-9273-4
Cacciattolo, K. (2015). Organisational politics: The positive & negative sides. European Scientific Journal, 11(1), 121–129.
Carlson, J., & Frayer, J. (2006). Acclimating to the professoriate: Perspectives from new female faculty members. Journal of Women in Educational Leadership, 4(2) https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jwel/180/
Catano, V., Francis, L., Haines, T., Kirpalani, H., Shannon, H., Stringer, B., & Lozanzki, L. (2010). Occupational stress in Canadian universities: A national survey. International Journal of Stress Management, 17(3), 232. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018582
Cerrato, J., & Cifre, E. (2018). Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01330
Chang, C. H., Rosen, C. C., & Levy, P. E. (2009). The relationship between perceptions of organizational politics and employee attitudes, strain, and behavior: A meta-analytic examination. Academy of Management Journal, 52(4), 779–801. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2009.43670894
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404
Cranford, C. J., Vosko, L. F., & Zukewich, N. (2003). The gender of precarious employment in Canada. Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, 58(3), 454–482. https://doi.org/10.7202/007495ar
Cross, M., Lee, S., Bridgman, H., Kaji Thapa, D., Cleary, M., & Kornhaberid, R. (2019). Benefits, barriers and enablers of mentoring female health academics: An integrative review. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215319
Cureton, D., Jones, J., & Foster, W. (2011). The impact of mentoring on stress in higher education. https://wlv.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/2436/621970/MentoringandStressinHigherEducationDCuretonJJonesWFosterIJoMC.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Daly, C. J., & Dee, J. R. (2006). Greener pastures: Faculty turnover intent in urban public universities. The Journal of Higher Education, 77(5), 776–803. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2006.11778944
Darabi, M., Macaskill, A., & Reidy, L. (2017). Stress among UK academics: Identifying who copes best. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 41(3), 393–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2015.1117598
Davey, K. M. (2008). Women’s accounts of organizational politics as a gendering process. Gender, Work & Organization, 15(6), 650–671. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2008.00420.x
Dunn, D., Gerlach, J. M., & Hyle, A. E. (2014). Gender and leadership: Reflections of women in higher education administration. International Journal of Leadership and Change, 2(1), article 2. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijlc/vol2/iss1/2
Eagan, M. K., & Garvey, J. C. (2015). Stressing out: Connecting race, gender, and stress with faculty productivity. The Journal of Higher Education, 86(6), 923–954. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2015.11777389
Edwards, J. A., Van Laar, D., Easton, S., & Kinman, G. (2009). The work-related quality of life scale for higher education employees. Quality in Higher Education, 15(3), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538320903343057
Faisal, F., Noor, N., & Khair, A. (2019). Causes and consequences of workplace stress among Pakistan university teachers. Bulletin of Education and Research, 41(3), 45–60.
Fontinha, R., Easton, S., & van Laar, D. (2019). Overtime and quality of working life in academics and non-academics: The role of perceived work-life balance. International Journal of Stress Management, 26(2), 173–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000067
Gilbert, E. K., Foulk, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2017). Building positive psychological resources: The effects of mindfulness, work breaks, and positive reflection. In C. Cooper & J. Campbell Quick (Eds.), The handbook of stress and health: A guide to research and practice (pp. 538–552). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118993811.ch33
Ginsburg, M. (2019). The impact of microaggressions on the self among black clinical psychology graduate students (Doctoral dissertation, Adler University). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 22583119.
Gotsis, G. N., & Kortezi, Z. (2010). Ethical considerations in organizational politics: Expanding the perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 93, 497–517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0241-7
Haslam, S. A., & Ryan, M. K. (2008). The road to the glass cliff: Differences in the perceived suitability of men and women for leadership positions in succeeding and failing organizations. The Leadership Quarterly, 19(5), 530–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2008.07.011
Heilman, M. E., & Okimoto, T. G. (2008). Motherhood: A potential source of bias in employment decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.93.1.189
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind: Intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival. McGraw-Hill.
Hogan, J. M., Carlson, J. G., & Dua, J. (2002). Stressors and stress reactions among university personnel. International Journal of Stress Management, 9, 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019982316327
Jo, V. H. (2008). Voluntary turnover and women administrators in higher education. Higher Education, 56, 565–582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9111-y
Johnson, D. S., Johnson, A. D., Crossney, K. B., & Devereux, E. (2021). Women in higher education: A brief report on stress during COVID-19. Management in Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/08920206211019401
Karasek, R., & Theorell, T. (1990). Healthy work: Stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. Basic Books.
Kersh, R. (2018). Women in higher education: Exploring stressful workplace factors and coping strategies. NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education, 11(1), 56–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407882.2017.1372295
Kinman, G. (2014). Doing more with less? Work and wellbeing in academics. Somatechnics, 4(2), 219–235. https://doi.org/10.3366/soma.2014.0129
Kinman, G. (2016). Effort–reward imbalance and overcommitment in UK academics: Implications for mental health, satisfaction and retention. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 38(5), 504–518. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2016.1181884
Kinman, G., & Jones, F. (2004). Working to the limit: Stress and work-life balance in academic and academic-related employees in the UK. Association of University Teachers.
Kinman, G., & Jones, F. (2008). Effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment: Predicting strain in academic employees in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Stress Management, 15(4), 381–395. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013213
Kinman, G., & Wray, S. (2016). Work-related wellbeing in UK higher education. University and College Union. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24867.76321
Liljegren, M., & Ekberg, K. (2009). Job mobility as predictor of health and burnout. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 82(2), 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317908X332919
Loeffler, D., Ely, G., & Flaherty, C. (2010). Parenting on the tenure track: Exploring gender differences in perceptions of collegial and supervisor support. Academic Leadership: The Online Journal, 8(2), 31. https://doi.org/10.58809/NTMG2185
Longman, K., Daniels, J., Bray, D. L., & Liddell, W. (2018). How organizational culture shapes women’s leadership experiences. Administrative Sciences, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci8020008
McDonald, P. (2012). Workplace sexual harassment 30 years on: A review of the literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 14(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2011.00300.x
Magee, W. (2013). Anxiety, demoralization, and the gender difference in job satisfaction. Sex Roles, 69(5–6), 308–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-013-0297-9
Mahony, P., & Weiner, G. (2020). ‘Getting in, getting on, getting out’: Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff in UK higher education. Race Ethnicity and Education, 23(6), 841–857. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2019.1679761
Miller, A. N., Taylor, S. G., & Bedeian, A. G. (2011). Publish or perish: Academic life as management faculty live it. Career Development International, 16(5), 422–445. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620431111167751
Mintzberg, H. (1985). The organization as political arena. Journal of Management Studies, 22(2), 133–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.1985.tb00069.x
Misra, J., Kuvaeva, A., O’meara, K., Culpepper, D. K., & Jaeger, A. (2021). Gendered and racialized perceptions of faculty workloads. Gender & Society, 35(3), 358–394. https://doi.org/10.1177/08912432211001387
Mitchell, S. M., & Hesli, V. L. (2013). Women don’t ask? Women don’t say no? Bargaining and service in the political science profession. Political Science & Politics, 46(2), 355–369. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096513000073
Morrish, L. (2019). Pressure vessels: The epidemic of poor mental health among higher education staff. Higher Education Policy Institute.
Mudrak, J., Zabrodska, K., Kveton, P., Jelinek, M., Blatny, M., Solcova, I., & Machovcova, K. (2018). Occupational well-being among university faculty: A job demands-resources model. Research in Higher Education, 59, 325–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-017-9467-x
Neumann, A., & Terosky, A. L. (2007). To give and to receive: Recently, tenured professors’ experiences of service in major research universities. The Journal of Higher Education, 78(3), 282–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2007.11772317
O’Connor, P. (2020). Why is it so difficult to reduce gender inequality in male-dominated higher educational organizations? A feminist institutional perspective. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 45(2), 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2020.1737903
O’Meara, K., Kuvaeva, A., Nyunt, G., Waugaman, C., & Jackson, R. (2017). Asked more often: Gender differences in faculty workload in research universities and the work interactions that shape them. American Educational Research Journal, 54(6), 1154–1186. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831217716767
O’Meara, K., Lennartz, C. J., Kuvaeva, A., Jaeger, A., & Misra, J. (2019). Department conditions and practices associated with faculty workload satisfaction and perceptions of equity. The Journal of Higher Education, 90(5), 744–772. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2019.1584025
Ogbonna, E., & Harris, L. C. (2004). Work intensification and emotional labour among UK university lecturers: An exploratory study. Organization Studies, 25(7), 1185–1203. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840604046315
Othman, R. (2008). Organisational politics: The role of justice, trust and job ambiguity. Singapore Management Review, 30(1), 43–53.
Phelan, J. (1994). The paradox of the contented female worker: An assessment of alternative explanations. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57(2), 95–107. https://doi.org/10.2307/2786704
Poduval, J., & Poduval, M. (2009). Working mothers: How much working, how much mothers, and where is the womanhood? Mens Sana Monographs, 7(1), 63–79. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1229.41799
Rosa, R. (2022). The trouble with ‘work–life balance’ in neoliberal academia: A systematic and critical review. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1933926
Rout, U. R., & Rout, J. K. (2002). Stress management for primary health care professionals. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47649-5_3
Rafnsdóttir, G. L., & Heijstra, T. M. (2013). Balancing work-family life in academia: The power of time. Gender, Work and Organization, 20(3), 283–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2011.00571.x
Rauschenbach, C., Krumm, S., Thielgen, M., & Hertel, G. (2013). Age and work-related stress: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 28(7–8), 781–804. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-07-2013-0251
Sabharwal, M., & Corley, E. A. (2009). Faculty job satisfaction across gender and discipline. The Social Science Journal, 46(3), 539–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2009.04.015
Safaria, T., Othman, A., & Wahab, M. (2012). Gender, academic rank, employment status, university type and job stress among university academic staff: A comparison between Malaysia and Indonesia context. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(18), 250–261.
Salin, D. (2021). Workplace bullying and gender: an overview of empirical findings. In P. D’Cruz, E. Noronha, C. Caponecchio, J. Escartin, D. Salin & M. Tuckey (Eds.), Workplace bullying: Dignity and inclusion at work. Springer.
Santos, G., & Dang Van Phu, S. (2019). Gender and academic rank in the UK. Sustainability, 11(11), 3171. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113171
Schaufeli, W. B., & Taris, T. W. (2014). A critical review of the job demands-resources model: Implications for improving work and health. In G. F. Bauer & O. Hämmig (Eds.), Bridging occupational, organizational and public health. A Transdisciplinary approach (pp. 43–68). SpringerLink.
Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership (2nd ed.). Wiley.
Shen, P., & Slater, P. (2021). The effect of occupational stress and coping strategies on mental health and emotional well-being among university academic staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. International Education Studies, 14(3), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v14n3p82
Shreffler, M. B., Shreffler, J. R., & Murfree, J. R. (2019). Barriers to advancement of female faculty in higher education: An examination of student evaluations of teaching, work-family conflict and perceived organizational support. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 19(8), 72–85.
Siegrist, J. (1996). Adverse health effects of high-effort/low-reward conditions. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 1(1), 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.1.1.27
Simpson, M. A. (2019). Effects of gender and interpersonal attractiveness on perceived credibility when reporting workplace bullying. Grand Canyon University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2019. 22589636.
Simpson, R., & Cohen, C. (2004). Dangerous work: The gendered nature of bullying in the context of higher education. Gender, Work and Organization, 11(2), 163–186. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2004.00227.x
Sliŝković, A., & Serŝić, D. (2011). Work stress among university teachers: Gender and position differences. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 62(4), 299–307. https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-62-2011-2135
Solanki, S., & Mandaviya, M. (2021). Does gender matter? Job stress, work-life balance, health and job satisfaction among university teachers in India. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 22(7), 121–134.
Taylor, E. A., Smith, A. B., Welch, N. M., & Hardin, R. (2018). “You should be flattered!”: Female sport management faculty experiences of sexual harassment and sexism. Women in Sport and Physical Activity, 26, 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2017-0038
Torp, S., Lysfjord, L., & Midje, H. H. (2018). Workaholism and work–family conflict among university academics. Higher Education, 76(6), 1071–1090. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0247-0
Tsutsumi, A., & Kawakami, N. (2004). A review of empirical studies on the model of effort–reward imbalance at work: Reducing occupational stress by implementing a new theory. Social Science & Medicine, 59(11), 2335–2359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.03.030
Turnbow, E. N. (2019). Gender and work: An analysis of mid-level women administrators in student affairs. Wayne State University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2019. 27543848.
Tytherleigh, M. Y., Webb, C., Cooper, C. L., & Ricketts, C. (2005). Occupational stress in UK higher education institutions: A comparative study of all staff categories. Higher Education Research and Development, 24(1), 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/0729436052000318569
Verpeléti, B., Horváth, E., Dobi-Ágoston, G., Ágoston, G., Bérces, K., Molnár, R., Mátó, V., Varga, A., & Paulik, E. (2022). Exploring the effort-reward structure of university work focusing on perceived overall stress, self-reported health, and musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Public Health Research, 11(1), https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.2
Volkwein, J. F., & Zhou, Y. (2003). Testing a model of administrative job satisfaction. Research in Higher Education, 44, 149–171. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022099612036
Warr, P. (1987). Work, unemployment, and mental health. Oxford University Press.
Watts, J., & Robertson, N. (2011). Burnout in university teaching staff: A systematic literature review. Educational Research, 53(1), 33–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2011.552235
Wilks, D. C., & Neto, F. (2013). Workplace well-being, gender and age: Examining the ‘double jeopardy’ effect. Social Indicators Research, 114, 875–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0177-7
Willness, C. R., Steel, P., & Lee, K. (2007). A meta-analysis of the antecedents and consequences of workplace sexual harassment. Personnel Psychology, 60(1), 127–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00067.x
Winefield, H. R., Boyd, C., & Winefield, A. H. (2014). Work-family conflict and well-being in university employees. The Journal of Psychology, 148(6), 683–697. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2013.822343
Winefield, T., Boyd, C., Saebel, J., & Pignata, S. (2008). Update on national university stress study. The Australian Universities’ Review, 50(1), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.266240247331451
Wong, K. (2018, November 14). There’s a stress gap between men and women. Here’s why it’s important. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/smarter-living/stress-gap-women-men.html
Wray, S., & Kinman, G. (2021). Supporting staff wellbeing in higher education. https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/media/x4jdvxpl/es-supporting-staff-wellbeing-in-he-report.pdf
Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2007). The role of personal resources in the job demands-resources model. International Journal of Stress Management, 14, 121–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.14.2.121
Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2009). Reciprocal relationships between job resources, personal resources, and work engagement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(3), 235–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2008.11.003
Zabarauskaite, R. (2010). Job satisfaction factors among university staff. Institute of Labour and Social Research. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/article/2012/job-satisfaction-factors-among-university-staff
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendices
Appendix 4.1: The Six Questions from Cohen et al.’s (1983) Perceived Stress Scale
-
1.
In the past month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?
-
2.
In the past month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle personal problems? (Reverse scored)
-
3.
In the past month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things you had to do?
-
4.
In the past month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life? (Reverse scored)
-
5.
In the past month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things? (Reverse scored)
-
6.
In the past month, how often have you been angry because of things that happened that were outside your control?
Appendix 4.2: Supplementary Information on Participants Quoted
Quote ID | Role | Age | Ethnicity |
---|---|---|---|
4a | Academic | 40–44 | White British |
4b | Academic | 50–54 | White Northern Irish |
4c | Academic | 35–39 | White British |
4d | Academic | 30–34 | White Irish |
4e | Professional services | 45–49 | White British |
4f | Academic | 55–59 | White British |
4g | Academic | 40–44 | White British |
4h | Academic | 55–59 | White British |
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Barnard, S., Arnold, J., Munir, F., Bosley, S. (2024). Work and Stress. In: Women Doing Leadership in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54365-4_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54365-4_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-54364-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-54365-4
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)