Health and wellbeing of staff working at higher education institutions globally during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period: evidence from a cross-sectional study

Rahman MA 1 , Das P 2 , Lam L 3 , Alif SM 2 , Sultana F 4 , Salehin M 2 Show all authors , Banik B 2 , Joseph B 2 , Parul P 2 , Lewis A 2 , Statham D 2 , Porter J 5 , Foster K 3 , Islam SMS 6 , Cross W 2 , Jacob A 3 , Hua S 3 , Wang Q 7 , Chair SY 8 , Chien WT 8 , Widati S 9 , Nurmala I 9 , Puspaningsih NNT 9 , Hammoud M 10 , Omar K 11 , Halim MASA 11 , Gamal-Eltrabily M 12 , Ortiz G 12 , Al Maskari TS 13 , Al Alawi SSM 13 , Al-Rahbi BS 13 , Arulappan J 14 , Ahmad A 15 , Al Laham N 16 , Mahmud I 17 , Alasqah I 17 , Noorbhai H 18 , Chang SL 19 , Chen YL 19 , Comlekci MF 20 , Basol O 20 , Saddik B 21 , Hayman R 22 , Polman R 2

Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC, 3806, Australia. ma.rahman@federation.edu.au
  • 2 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC, 3806, Australia
  • 3 School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
  • 4 Telstra Health, Melbourne, Australia
  • 5 Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC), Federation University Australia, Churchill, Australia
  • 6 Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
  • 7 School of Nursing, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
  • 8 The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
  • 9 Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • 10 Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • 11 Institute of Tropical Biodiversity & Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 12 División de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro, Querétaro, México
  • 13 Oman College of Health Sciences-South Sharquiya, South Sharquiya, Oman
  • 14 Sultan Qaboos University, AlKhoudh, Oman
  • 15 University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • 16 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine
  • 17 School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
  • 18 BEAHT Research Centre, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 19 Asia University, Wufeng, Taiwan
  • 20 Kirklareli University, Kirklareli, Turkey
  • 21 College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • 22 Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
BMC Public Health, 2024 Jul 11;24(1):1848.
PMID: 38992680 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19365-1

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ongoing global crisis of Higher Education (HE) institutions during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period has increased the likelihood of enduring psychological stressors for staff. This study aimed to identify factors associated with job insecurity, burnout, psychological distress and coping amongst staff working at HE institutions globally.

METHODS: An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 with staff at HE institutions across 16 countries. Job insecurity was measured using the Job Insecurity Scale (JIS), burnout using the Perceived Burnout measure question, psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and coping using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Multivariable logistic regression with a stepwise variable selection method was used to identify associations.

RESULTS: A total of 2,353 staff participated; the mean age (± SD) was 43(± 10) years and 61% were females. Most staff (85%) did not feel job insecurity, one-third (29%) perceived burnout in their jobs, more than two-thirds (73%) experienced moderate to very high levels of psychological distress, and more than half (58%) exhibited medium to high resilient coping. Perceived job insecurity was associated with staff working part-time [Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.53 (95% Confidence Intervals 1.15-2.02)], having an academic appointment [2.45 (1.78-3.27)], having multiple co-morbidities [1.86 (1.41-2.48)], perceived burnout [1.99 (1.54-2.56)] and moderate to very high level of psychological distress [1.68 (1.18-2.39)]. Perceived burnout was associated with being female [1.35 (1.12-1.63)], having multiple co-morbidities [1.53 (1.20-1.97)], perceived job insecurity [1.99 (1.55-2.57)], and moderate to very high levels of psychological distress [3.23 (2.42-4.30)]. Staff with multiple co-morbidities [1.46 (1.11-1.92)], mental health issues [2.73 (1.79-4.15)], perceived job insecurity [1.61 (1.13-2.30)], and perceived burnout [3.22 (2.41-4.31)] were associated with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress. Staff who perceived their mental health as good to excellent [3.36 (2.69-4.19)] were more likely to have medium to high resilient coping.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors identified in this study should be considered in reviewing and updating current support strategies for staff at HE institutions across all countries to reduce stress and burnout and improve wellbeing.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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