Occupational well-being in higher education teachers: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51798/sijis.v6i2.1061Keywords:
Workplace well-being, Higher education, University faculty, Organizational strategies, Occupational healthAbstract
Background: Workplace well-being among higher education faculty has gained importance due to increasing academic, administrative, and emotional demands in the university context. Methods: This systematic review, based on the PRISMA protocol, analyzed studies published between 2018 and 2024 in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest, identifying 21 relevant articles. Results: Key dimensions of well-being were identified, including mental health, work-life balance, organizational support, and physical well-being. Strategies such as psychological support programs, flexible schedules, and recreational activities were also described. Success factors included effective leadership, faculty autonomy, and organizational communication. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that implementing comprehensive well-being policies improves faculty quality of life and enhances educational sustainability. However, additional resources, committed leadership, and a proactive institutional culture are required to overcome existing barriers.
References
Ablanedo-Rosasa, J. H., Blevins, R. C., Gao, H., Teng, W. Y., & White, J. (2011). The impact of occupational stress on academic and administrative staff, and on students: An empirical case analysis. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 33(5), 553–564. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2011.605255
Alghunaimi, H., & Alghenaimi, S. (2024). The employee engagement’s impact on productivity and motivation in the private higher education sector in Oman. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(6), 869-877. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i6.4057
Al-Mulla, M. O., & Mohammed, M. K. A.-D. (2024). The quality of life and its relationship to psychological burnout of faculty members in Saudi universities. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(4), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i4.3496
Beatty, J., Hill, P., & Spengler, M. (2024). Sense of purpose and social-emotional-behavioral skills during university. Personality and Individual Differences, 233(March 2024), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112870
Bowman, T. G., Thrasher, A. B., Kasamatsu, T. M., & Lyons, S. M. (2024). Multistakeholder perceptions of young professionals’ integration during role transition. Journal of Athletic Training, 59(1), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0505.22
Bradshaw, M., Bruce, J., McKee, K., Orders, A., Sutton, R., & Dunn, C. (2024). The effects of burnout in female higher education administrators. Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, 43, 15-28. https://doi.org/10.21423/awlj-v43.a422
Bracho, P. (2021). Teoría de la justicia de John Rawls, desde una perspectiva de la filosofía política. Revista Chilena de Derecho y Ciencia Política, 12(2), 109–132. https://doi.org/10.7770/RCHDCP-V11N2.ART2650
Brunner, J., & Alarcón, M. (2024). Academic management in Chilean universities: An analysis from academics' perspective. European Journal of Education, 59(4), 12798. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12798
Cao, J., Dai, T., Dong, H., Chen, J., & Fan, Y. (2024). Research on the mechanism of academic stress on occupational burnout in Chinese universities. Scientific Reports, 14(12166), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62984-2
Chahar, S., Sevigny, P. R., & Beshai, S. (2024). Multicultural efficacy beliefs in higher education: Examining university instructors’ burnout and mental well-being. Psychological Reports. 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941241253599
Chakraborty, L. S., Le Maitre, C. L., Chahine, N. O., Fields, A. J., Gawri, R., Giers, M. B., Smith, L. J., Tang, S. Y., Zehra, U., Haglund, L., Samartzis, D., & Martin, J. T. (2024). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the productivity and career prospects of musculoskeletal researchers. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 42(10), 2296-2306. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25866
Chen, X., Wang, J., Jin, L., & Fan, Y. (2024). Social media use by teachers during work and its effects on their performance: The role of teacher’s wellbeing and social media addiction. BMC Psychology, 12(617), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02115-8
Cheng, W. L.-S., Tang, A. C.-Y., & Siu, K. L.-S. (2024). Examining the effects of moral distress, compassion fatigue and burnout on intention to leave among nursing students in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study. Applied Nursing Research, 80, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2024.151861
Chu, A., Unni, E. J., Murphy, K., & Mantione, M. M. (2024). Self-reported factors involved in attrition and retention of pharmacy faculty. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 88(8), 100739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100739
De Villiers Scheepers, M., Williams, P., Schaffer, V., Grace, A., Walling, C., Campton, J., Hands, K., Fisher, D., Banks, H., Loth, J., & Scheelings, A. (2023). Creating spaces of well-being in academia to mitigate academic burnout: A collaborative auto-ethnography. Qualitative Research Journal, 23(5), 65. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2023-0065
Demir, B. (2024). Exploring English language instructors’ perspectives and practices on teacher well-being. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9, 1491-1510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-024-00178-x
Deroncele-Acosta, A., Gil-Monte, P. R., Norabuena-Figueroa, R. P., & Gil-Laorden, P. (2023). Burnout in university teachers: Assessment, prevention, and treatment. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia, 28(10), 936-953. https://doi.org/10.52080/rvgluz.28.e10.5
Douglas, V., Pattison, N., Warren, K., & Karanika-Murray, M. (2024). Wellbeing in the higher education sector: A qualitative study of staff perceptions in UK universities. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2024.2341741
Genç, G., & Kırmızıbayrak, Ö. (2024). Enhancing pre-service English as a foreign language teachers’ self-efficacious belief in the use of Web 2.0 tools. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 210–220. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21639
Ghahramanian, A., Bagheriyeh, F., Aghajari, P., Asghari-Jafarabadi, M., Abolfathpour, P., Rahmani, A., Nabighadim, A., Hajieskandar, A. (2024). The intention to leave among academics in Iran: An examination of their work-life quality and satisfaction. BMC Nursing, 23(43), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01720-7
Ghasemy, M., & Hwa, M. A. C. (2024). Lessons from the holy grail of industrial psychology: Theoretical, practical, and social implications for HRM in the current landscape of academia amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Current Psychology, 43, 22105–22120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05532-x
Górak-Sosnowska, K., & Piwowar-Sulej, K. (2023). The well-being of female administrative staff in managerial positions in Polish higher education institutions. Central European Management Journal, 31(2), 207-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/CEMJ-12-2021-0151
Grant-Smith, D., & Laundon, M. (2023). Educator wellbeing in higher education. Student Success, 14(3), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.3236
Hassan, A., Saraih, U. N., Taufik, N. E. M., Qureshi, M. A., Marniati, & Rahmi, N. (2024). Neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness towards academic burnout in Malaysia. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2991(1), 198602. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0198602
Holmquist, S., Inzunza, M., Ghazinour, M., & Jonsson, B. (2024). Assessing autonomy, relatedness, and competence in higher education: The Swedish need satisfaction and frustration scale. Education Inquiry, 15(4), 423-442. https://doi.org/10.1080/20004508.2022.2116877
Huang, Y., Nalipay, M. J. N., & Wang, H. (2024). Profiles of occupational well-being among Chinese teachers: Associations with basic psychological needs satisfaction and teaching quality. Teaching and Teacher Education, 139(September 2023), 104461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104461
Igwe, M., & Ligaya, M. (2024). Students’ performance in English: effects of teachers’ leadership behavior and students’ motivation. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21680
Iskakova, M., Kaldygozova, S., Ussenova, A., Junissova, A., & Shomanbaeva, A. (2024). Study of the impact of special educational programmes on the psycho-emotional well-being of students. Periodicals of Engineering and Natural Sciences, 12(2), 4022. https://doi.org/10.21533/pen.v12i2.4022.g1371
Jackson, S. A. (2023). A dystopian post-civil rights era: Black Lives Matter and the rhetoric of change 2023 PSA presidential address. Sociological Perspectives, 66(5), 200945. https://doi.org/10.1177/07311214231200945
Lathren, C. R., Efird-Green, L., Reed, D., Zimmerman, S., Perreira, K. M., Bluth, K., Sloane, P. D. (2024). The prevalence and benefits of self-compassion among professional caregivers. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 25(8), 105099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105099
Laundon, M., & Grant-Smith, D. (2023). Defining and Advancing a Systems Approach to Achieving Educator Wellbeing: An Integrative Review of Wellbeing in Higher Education. Student Success, 14(3), 104–119. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.3191
Lee, S. T., & Jung, S. M. (2023). Is your degree worth it? Education-job transferability and job satisfaction of ICT workers. SAGE Open, 13(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231210068
Livia, J., Merino, C., & Livia, R. (2022). Producción Científica en la Base de Datos Scopus de una Universidad Privada del Perú. Revista digital de investigación en docencia universitaria, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.19083/10.19083/ridu.2022.1500
Lutz, P. K., Newman, D., & Zelenski, J. (2024). Belief in a just world and well-being: A daily diary perspective. Personality and Individual Differences, 233(October 2024), 112886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112886
Männikkö, N., Palomäki, J., Parikka, S., Määttänen, I., & Castrén, S. (2024). Establishing academic burnout’s relationship with problematic internet use and specific health-risk behaviours: A cross-sectional study of Finnish higher education students. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01290-4
Mohamud, A. H., Barre, G. M., & Mohamud, I. H. (2024). Factors influencing job satisfaction among academic and nonacademic staff: The case of Simad University. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(11), 37-47. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.11.005
Mokhlis, S., & Abdullah, A. (2024). The impact of teacher empowerment on schools’ innovation climate. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 322–329. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21633
Nadon, L., Morin, A. J. S., Gilbert, W., Olivier, E., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2024). Developmental heterogeneity of school burnout across the transition from upper secondary school to higher education: A 9-year follow-up study. Journal of School Psychology, 107, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101385
Nightingale, S. D. (2023). Perceptions of institutional response to sexual assault amongst college-based victim advocates. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(17-18), 168820. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231168820
Nwoko, J., Emeto, T., Malau, A., & Malau, S. (2023). A Systematic Review of the Factors That Influence Teachers’ Occupational Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126070
Rähä, K., Katajavouri, N., Vehkalahti, K., Huotilainen, M., & Asikainen, H. (2024). University students’ stress and burnout risk: Results of an ACT-based online course using self-assessments and HRV-measurements. Current Psychology, 43, 20182–20195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05800-4
Rahel, C., Adriyani, R., & Nurfitria, H. (2021). Health risk in hot springs: A literature review. Journal of Health Science and Prevention, 5(2), 88–99. https://doi.org/10.29080/jhsp.v5i2.524
Ramos, D. K., Anastácio, B. S., Da Silva, G. A., Rosso, L. U., & Mattar, J. (2023). Burnout syndrome in different teaching levels during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. BMC Public Health, 23(135), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15134-8
Salim, Z., & Isava, V. (2024). COVID-19’s meso-scale impacts: Exploring the perspectives of geoscience department chairs in California. Journal of Geoscience Education, 72(4), 2266089. https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2023.2266089
Schrijk, J., Carstensen, B., Soellner, R., & Klusmann, U. (2024). Pandemic rollercoaster: University students’ trajectories of emotional exhaustion, satisfaction, enthusiasm, and dropout intentions pre-, during, and post-COVID-19. Teaching and Teacher Education, 148, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104709
Sciotto, G., Pace, F., & Moavero, C. (2024). Workload and need for recovery in the academy: The moderating role of student demands and meaningful work perceptions. European Journal of Education, 59(4), 12777. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12777
Seitz, K. P., Baclig, N. V., Stiller, R., & Chen, A. (2023). Implementation of a near-peer support program to improve trainee well-being after patient safety events. ATS Scholar, 4(4), 423-430. https://doi.org/10.34197/ats-scholar.2023-0011PS
Shindina, T., Mikhaylova, I., Knyazeva, N., & Usmanova, N. (2024). Assessment of job satisfaction of a university teacher in the e-learning system as a tool for managing the development of digital competencies of faculty members. 2024 7th International Conference on Information Technologies in Engineering Education, INFORINO 2024 - Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1109/Inforino60363.2024.10552002
Sunaryo, W., Yusnita, N., & Radnawati, D. (2024). Examination the influences of personal value and job satisfaction dimensions on professional commitment. Cogent Education, 11(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2364472
Szegedi, K., Győri, Z., & Juhász, T. (2024). Factors affecting quality of life and learning-life balance of university students in business higher education. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(113), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02603-7
Talib, S., Alias, B. S., Matore, M., & Abdullah, A. (2024). Empowering STEM education through the role of principals: a systematic literature review. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 570–578. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21889
Tambak, S., & Sukenti, D. (2024). Islamic professional madrasa teachers and motivation for continuous development: a phenomenological approach. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21301
Tamrin, A. G., Triyono, M., Saputro, I., Sucipto, T., & Asnur, L. (2024). Enhancing creative teaching behavior of vocational school teachers: structural equation modeling analysis. Journal of Education and Learning, 19(1), 221–231. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v19i1.21812
Westerlund, R., Chugai, O., Petrenko, S., & Zuyenok, I. (2023). Teaching and learning English at higher educational institutions in Ukraine through pandemics and wartime. Advanced Education, 22, 12-26. https://doi.org/10.20535/2410-8286.283353
Widyanthi, D. G. C., Yudana, I. M., Agung, A. A. G., & Ariawan, I. P. W. (2024). Effect of workplace spirituality and servant leadership on service quality in higher education: A mediation model of job satisfaction. Global Business and Finance Review, 29(3), 57-67. https://doi.org/10.17549/gbfr.2024.29.3.57
Wu, H., & Wang, H. (2024). Is being intrinsically motivated a mixed blessing? The differential effects of daily intrinsic motivation on employee functioning. Tourism Management, 107(178), 105073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2024.105073
Yang, D., Liu, L., & Wei, Y. (2023). Social support and learning burnout in art education students: The mediating role of resilience. Social Behavior and Personality, 51(12), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.12731
Zhang, M., Surrienty, L., & Hu, D. (2024). Bibliometric visualization analysis of teachers’ work stress. International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation, 21, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.46661/ijeri.10257
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Delgado Vela, Eliana Abigail

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.