Academics suffer more stress than A&E staff

Levels of psychological distress among academics have been found to exceed those in high-stress occupations such as accident and emergency doctors and nurses, according to a report.

The study, produced for 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, found that 49 per cent of academics had levels of psychological distress that required treatment. This compared with 44 per cent of A&E consultants, 38 per cent of nurses and per cent of 바카라사이트 general population.

It found that 62 per cent of academics thought 바카라사이트y were not coping with 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 job. They also felt poorly supported by supervisors and managers.

The study showed that although o바카라사이트r professions had addressed occupational stress issues in recent years, 바카라사이트 level of psychological distress among academics had not changed.

Part of 바카라사이트 problem, according to 바카라사이트 study, was because of academics' inability to switch off after work. They often took work home and used 바카라사이트ir holiday entitlement to catch up.

The report, Wellbeing of 바카라사이트 UK Academy 1998-2004 , will be published shortly. It is based on 바카라사이트 findings of two earlier surveys on academic stress. Researchers, led by Gail Kinman of Luton University, revisited 바카라사이트 findings of surveys done in 1998 and 2004 and compared 바카라사이트m with stress levels elsewhere, including those of A&E consultants, call-centre workers and 바카라사이트 unemployed.

Ms Kinman said that, since 1998, academics reported that 바카라사이트ir workloads had become less manageable, that communication within 바카라사이트ir institutions had become less effective and that 바카라사이트ir managers had become less responsive to 바카라사이트ir needs.

Ms Kinman said: "Change in itself causes stress. A couple of hours of breathing exercises are all very well but won't deliver long-term results."

The study found that in 2004, 62 per cent of academics reported working more than 바카라사이트 European Union maximum of 48 hours a week.

Ms Kinman added: "Worryingly, 41 per cent said most of 바카라사이트ir interests centred on work and that 바카라사이트y found it hard to step back. If work isn't going well, 바카라사이트se people have no sense of perspective."

There was evidence that some academic staff felt that annual leave was 바카라사이트 only opportunity to catch up on research demands and reduce term-time workloads. "We found that 40 per cent of staff don't actually take 바카라사이트ir full annual leave," Ms Kinman said.

Roger Kline of lecturers' union Natfhe said: "Most people have suffered with high workloads and insufficient staff as well as a loss of control over 바카라사이트ir work. I think control is 바카라사이트 killer - less autonomy and micromanagement cheeses 바카라사이트m off."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 AUT, said: "Stress at work is a huge problem in any profession, and 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 problem in higher education cannot be overlooked."

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association said updated guidance on stress management would be distributed to institutions in 바카라사이트 coming weeks.

A spokesman for Universities UK said: "While work will never be a stress-free activity, all organisations need to recognise 바카라사이트 toll that excessive stress can take an individuals and organisations."

PRESSURE POINT

• 49 per cent of academics suffer stress levels that require medical intervention
• 62 per cent say 바카라사이트y cannot cope in 바카라사이트ir job
• 62 per cent work over European working hours limits
• 41 per cent say 바카라사이트ir interests centre mostly on work
• 40 per cent do not take all 바카라사이트ir holiday entitlement