Explore the evidence.
Understand the reach.

The psychological and emotional well-being of academic staff in the South African higher education system is affected by multiple challenges that obscure the delivery of distinct academic projects. These challenges have an impact on the academic staff’s mental health. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the mental health stressors affecting academic program coordinators at a South African university. By identifying and analyzing specific challenges, the research aims to provide actionable insights to inform institutional policies and interventions designed to improve the mental well-being of academic staff. This study will broaden the understanding of the mental health stressors among South African universities. The study is premised within an interpretivist paradigm and uses a case study qualitative design. Individual interviews were conducted with 4 purposively selected academic programme coordinators.  Data were analysed using thematic and narrative analyses. The findings identified five mental health stressors that affect academic programme coordinators. These stressors are (1) increased and heavy workload with many modules and extra administration; (2) understaffing- increased students-no creation of new posts; (3) duplication of duties and work transfer; (4) lack of support, and lack of implementation of resolutions; and (5) over-use of part-time lectures at most 50 part-time lectures.  As part of the conclusions, the study recommends that the university conduct a job analysis to revisit and reimagine job descriptions and organizational structure to alleviate job duplication and job transfer. Furthermore, the study proposes adequate staffing and equitable workloads across the university’s academic and support staff

This research investigates the prevalence, experiences, and impacts of stress among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, focussing on trauma within the South African context, occupational stress, and the breadth of emergency practice. Recent research emphasises the trauma faced by victims and the stress endured by carers. This qualitative phenomenological study utilised trauma theory as a framework, incorporating purposive sampling, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis. The findings indicate that elevated demands and insufficient support adversely affect the biopsychosocial well-being of EMS personnel. The study posits that social workers and pastoral workers are essential in fostering supportive, growth-oriented work environments via interventions like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and labour relations policies aimed at alleviating occupational stress.

The study examines burnout and the factors that influence it, namely job satisfaction and well-being as mediators or intervening. This study used a descriptive quantitative approach to test three hypotheses, a data collection tool using a psychological scale. To collect research data, the authors adopted sources adapted to local culture and developed research instruments using psychological scales with Likert type. For data analysis, use SPSS and SEM-PLS. The research finding is that job satisfaction can directly affect burnout and indirectly, from job satisfaction to well-being (as an intervening variable), then to burnout. The magnitude of direct influence is 0.135, while the magnitude of indirect influence is 0.540. Since the coefficient of an indirect relationship is greater than that of a direct relationship, the actual relationship is indirect. Thus, the role of well-being as a mediator function optimally or fully.

The study investigated the moderating influence of demographic variables on productivity and job stress of workers in electrical occupations. Relevant research questions were answered while hypotheses formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a correlational research design and was carried out in the North Central States. The population for the study was 301 workers in electrical occupations. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled Demographic Variables, Job Stress and Productivity Questionnaire (DVJSPQ). The overall reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.96. Point–biserial correlation and regression analysis were employed to analyze data for answering research questions and hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that: demographic variables have a strong relationship with the productivity of workers in electrical occupations, age and educational qualification were significant moderators of the relationship between occupational stress and the productivity of workers in electrical occupations. Hence, workers in electrical occupations should be sensitized through workshops and seminars on how demographic variables influence their productivity and job stress in their occupations.

The study investigated work stress and gender determinants of job satisfaction among early childhood educators in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design with a sample size of 362 respondents. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire developed by the researchers. Mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis was used to answer research questions, while Linear regression was used to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study showed that work stress is a significant determinant of job satisfaction among early childhood educators in Cross River State. Gender is also a significant factor in determining job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is enhanced when work stress is reduced. It is recommended, among others, that the government and school proprietors should always meet early childhood educators' needs to reduce work stress and enhance their job satisfaction.

The psychological and emotional well-being of academic staff in the South African higher education system is affected by multiple challenges that obscure the delivery of distinct academic projects. These challenges have an impact on the academic staff’s mental health. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the mental health stressors affecting academic program coordinators at a South African university. By identifying and analyzing specific challenges, the research aims to provide actionable insights to inform institutional policies and interventions designed to improve the mental well-being of academic staff. This study will broaden the understanding of the mental health stressors among South African universities. The study is premised within an interpretivist paradigm and uses a case study qualitative design. Individual interviews were conducted with 4 purposively selected academic programme coordinators.  Data were analysed using thematic and narrative analyses. The findings identified five mental health stressors that affect academic programme coordinators. These stressors are (1) increased and heavy workload with many modules and extra administration; (2) understaffing- increased students-no creation of new posts; (3) duplication of duties and work transfer; (4) lack of support, and lack of implementation of resolutions; and (5) over-use of part-time lectures at most 50 part-time lectures.  As part of the conclusions, the study recommends that the university conduct a job analysis to revisit and reimagine job descriptions and organizational structure to alleviate job duplication and job transfer. Furthermore, the study proposes adequate staffing and equitable workloads across the university’s academic and support staff

This research investigates the prevalence, experiences, and impacts of stress among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, focussing on trauma within the South African context, occupational stress, and the breadth of emergency practice. Recent research emphasises the trauma faced by victims and the stress endured by carers. This qualitative phenomenological study utilised trauma theory as a framework, incorporating purposive sampling, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis. The findings indicate that elevated demands and insufficient support adversely affect the biopsychosocial well-being of EMS personnel. The study posits that social workers and pastoral workers are essential in fostering supportive, growth-oriented work environments via interventions like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and labour relations policies aimed at alleviating occupational stress.

The study examines burnout and the factors that influence it, namely job satisfaction and well-being as mediators or intervening. This study used a descriptive quantitative approach to test three hypotheses, a data collection tool using a psychological scale. To collect research data, the authors adopted sources adapted to local culture and developed research instruments using psychological scales with Likert type. For data analysis, use SPSS and SEM-PLS. The research finding is that job satisfaction can directly affect burnout and indirectly, from job satisfaction to well-being (as an intervening variable), then to burnout. The magnitude of direct influence is 0.135, while the magnitude of indirect influence is 0.540. Since the coefficient of an indirect relationship is greater than that of a direct relationship, the actual relationship is indirect. Thus, the role of well-being as a mediator function optimally or fully.

The study investigated the moderating influence of demographic variables on productivity and job stress of workers in electrical occupations. Relevant research questions were answered while hypotheses formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a correlational research design and was carried out in the North Central States. The population for the study was 301 workers in electrical occupations. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled Demographic Variables, Job Stress and Productivity Questionnaire (DVJSPQ). The overall reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.96. Point–biserial correlation and regression analysis were employed to analyze data for answering research questions and hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that: demographic variables have a strong relationship with the productivity of workers in electrical occupations, age and educational qualification were significant moderators of the relationship between occupational stress and the productivity of workers in electrical occupations. Hence, workers in electrical occupations should be sensitized through workshops and seminars on how demographic variables influence their productivity and job stress in their occupations.

The study investigated work stress and gender determinants of job satisfaction among early childhood educators in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design with a sample size of 362 respondents. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire developed by the researchers. Mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis was used to answer research questions, while Linear regression was used to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study showed that work stress is a significant determinant of job satisfaction among early childhood educators in Cross River State. Gender is also a significant factor in determining job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is enhanced when work stress is reduced. It is recommended, among others, that the government and school proprietors should always meet early childhood educators' needs to reduce work stress and enhance their job satisfaction.