The Well‐being of the UK Academy, 1998–2004

Abstract

This paper compares the findings of two studies, conducted in 1998 and 2004, of academic staff in British universities. It examines the stability over time of working hours, specific work stressors and levels of psychological distress. Comparisons are also made between the levels of psychological distress currently reported by academic staff and those reported by other professional groups and the general population in the UK. Finally, the paper assesses the extent to which UK universities are meeting minimum health and safety at work standards for the management of job stressors. The findings indicate that: there has been little change in the levels of most stressors experienced over the six year period; the high levels of psychological distress found in the 1998 study are undiminished and exceed those of other professional groups and the population generally; the majority of the health and safety at work standards are not met. Possible implications of these findings for the quality of UK higher education are discussed.

Notes

1 This paper reports statistical significance of the results as a guide. It should be noted that while broadly representative of the full‐time staff in the sector, the two samples are not random, which renders statistical significance tests problematic. Statistical inference should not be read as a determining factor in evaluating the results. The results as a whole provide a substantive indictor of change, irrespective of the statistical significance of individual comparisons.