A Case Study Investigating Mental Wellbeing of University Academics during the COVID-19 Pandemic
A Case Study Investigating Mental Wellbeing of University Academics during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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DOI：
10.3390/educsci11110702
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发表时间：
2021-11-01
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Byrom, Nicola C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Dinu, Larisa M.;Dommett, Eleanor J.;Byrom, Nicola C.
COVID-19影响了全球高等教育。虽然有几项研究探讨了这一流行病对学生的影响，但很少有人讨论其对学术人员的影响。在这里，我们提出了调查（n = 89）和访谈（n = 12）数据，突出了流行病引起的影响，从不同学科和职业阶段的学者。数据于二零二零年五月至九月期间收集，旨在捕捉及了解英国疫情的即时影响。对研究人口和就业因素、数字能力和信心以及心理健康的学者进行封锁。分析显示，大多数学者对他们从大学和同事那里得到的支持感到满意，他们在家里有足够的设备和空间工作。然而，有一半的学生为保持获得技术而承担了额外的财务费用，许多人感到与大学的关系发生了变化。根据就业状况，年龄，教师和学术社会身份，数字能力和信心存在差异。教学工作量并没有全面增加，而是资历预测增加。幸福感水平较低，但工作量增加或数字化工作的能力和信心并没有像预期的那样显著预测。作为一名学者，更强的社会认同感可能预示着更高的心理健康，定性数据表明团队合作和大学活动有所帮助。此外，受访者指出了远程工作的几个积极方面。这些发现表明，大学应该仔细考虑如何支持所有员工数字化工作，并考虑在大流行后灵活工作。
COVID-19 has impacted Higher Education worldwide. While several studies have examined the effects of the pandemic on students, few have addressed its impact on academic staff. Here, we present both survey (n = 89) and interview (n = 12) data highlighting the pandemic-induced effects on academics from various disciplines and career stages. Data was collected between May and September 2020, aiming to capture and understand the immediate effects of the U.K. lockdown on the academics examining demographic and employment factors, digital abilities and confidence, and mental wellbeing. Analyses revealed that most academics were satisfied with the support they received from the university and colleagues, and they had adequate equipment and space at home to work. However, half incurred additional financial costs to maintain access to technology and many felt an altered relationship with the university. There were discrepancies in digital abilities and confidence according to employment status, age, faculty, and social identity as an academic. Teaching workload did not increase across the board, rather seniority predicted increases. Levels of wellbeing were low but were not significantly predicted by workload increase or abilities and confidence in working digitally as might have been expected. Stronger social identity as an academic may predict higher mental wellbeing with qualitative data suggesting teamwork and collegiate activities helped. Furthermore, interviewees identified several positive aspects to working remotely. These findings suggest universities should consider carefully how to support all staff to work digitally and consider flexible working post-pandemic.