Job Stress, Burnout, Depression Symptoms, and Physical Health among Chinese University Teachers

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships among job stress, burnout, depression, and health among university teachers in China. Using a stratified random sampling method, a sample of 300 university teachers completed the Occupational Stress Indicator-2 (OSI-2), Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Path analysis showed that burnout was a mediator among job stress, the occurrence and exacerbation of depressive symptoms, and poor physical health.

The Relationship between Work Burnout and Employees' Mental Health as Measured by GHQ-28: A Field Study Using a Sample of University Lecturers

“…These findings are inline with the previously reported research results conducted in other work places or professionals in other occupations (Zhong et al, 2009;Rohland et al, 2004;Sherirom & Ezrachi, 2003). It also seems that these results lend support to the validity of the concepts and tools used in these studies.…”

“…Intensive and continuous burnout may affect mental health in general and may lead to develop depression and anxiety. Such psychological disorders will affect employee motivation, commitment, absence and performance in general (Ahola, 2007;Zhong et al, 2009;Tsigilis, et al, 2006;Lerman, 1999).…”

“…The consequences of such failure to cope can be seen in various aspects of the teaching process, mainly in bad teaching, absenteeism, and personal problems (Manlove, 1993), in another word, deterioration of the quality of education (Hogan et al 2007;Fenech, 2006;Maslach & leiter, 1999;Stremmel, 1993). However, the consequences of burnout may go as far as causing employees to develop depression symptoms and poor physical health (Zhong, et al 2009). A unique PhD study concentrated on studying the causes of burnout among academics in USA found that academics feel unmotivated, cynical and burdened with many issues.…”

“…For example, it has been suggested that employees with maladjustment, anxity or depression may have more feelings of detachment from work, low motivation, and poor performance (e.g. Ahola, 2007;Zhong, et al 2009). Therefore, the current study is providing a shed light on some of the individual factors that may contribute to the burnout phenomena.…”

Exploratory Study about Health and Job Stress Determinants for Teaching and Research Staff in Universities in Spain

“…Posteriormente, Kinman (2001) avanza en su investigación a través de un estudio cualitativo centrado en los factores de estrés en el mundo académico, en donde sintetiza los factores psicosociales más importantes que inciden en el estrés laboral del profesorado universitario, incluyendo: la falta de oportunidades de promoción y ascenso, la falta de soporte para investigación, la falta de oportunidades de formación y desarrollo, la sobrecarga de información, la gran cantidad de estudiantes, las dificultades de obtener financiación, la presión constante para publicar los resultados de sus investigaciones, y la falta de soporte institucional, humano y técnico. Más recientemente, Zhong et al (2009) aseveran que el burnout actúa como variable mediadora entre el estrés laboral, la exacerbación de los síntomas depresivos y el empeoramiento de la salud, en el contexto de los profesores universitarios. Finalmente, en un estudio realizado sobre profesores universitarios españoles, Avargues- Navarro et al (2010) han constatado el papel mediador de la competencia personal percibida en el efecto ejercido por las condiciones de trabajo estresantes sobre la despersonalización y realización personal, así como sobre la sintomatología de estrés.…”