Stress, distress, disorder and coping: the impact of anonymous student evaluation of teaching on the health of higher education teachers

Abstract

Anonymous student evaluation of teaching (SET) is a universal practice in higher education. We conducted a mixed-methods approach to investigate the nature and impact of anonymous SET commentary in the Australian higher education sector. Respondents shared a range of detailed SET exemplars, which revealed the extent of hurtful, defamatory and abusive commentary made by students. This paper reports the self-perceived impact of these on the health and wellbeing of academics. The majority of respondents reported that anonymous narrative comments contributed to workplace stress. There were no significant differences for gender. Younger academics were more likely to report the process of SET as stressful. Four themes were identified from the narrative responses: stress, distress, disorder and coping. These themes highlight the mental distress and impacts on well-being from repeated exposure to uncivil commentary made in SET by students. This distress was exacerbated by the failure of many employing universities to take substantial action to remedy or limit exposure to uncivil behaviour. The current system of anonymous SET has little validity and instead may operate as a vehicle for unfettered incivility directed towards teaching staff. The mental health impacts are significant for some and may impact the recruitment, retention and renewal of academic teaching staff into the future.

Keywords:

• Student evaluation of teaching
• occupational stress
• teaching
• assessment
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on Contributors

Richard Lakeman is an Associate Professor at Southern Cross University and Coordinator of SCU Online Mental Health Programmes. He is a Mental Health Nurse, psychotherapist and fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing.

Marie Hutchinson is a Professor in Nursing at the Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University.

Megan Lee is a Senior Teaching Fellow in Psychology at Bond University and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Education at Southern Cross University. Megan has just submitted her PhD in Psychology and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Australasian Psychological Society (APS).

Deb Massey is an Associate Professor at Southern Cross University and an intensive care nurse.

Dima Nasrawi is Lecturer in Nursing at Southern Cross University and a PhD student at Griffith University. She is a Cardiac Nurse and a member of the Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association.

Jann Fielden is a Casual Lecturer and Academic Integrity Officer at Southern Cross University.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.