UK higher education staff's mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19
ISSN: 0142-5455
Article publication date: 15 December 2023
Issue publication date: 21 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of academic and professional Higher Education (HE) staff in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method survey questionnaire was sent to almost 300 UK HE staff to secure qualitative and quantitative data to enable data triangulation.
Findings
The study found an adverse impact on academic and professional staff's mental health and wellbeing, further resulting in stress and anxiety. Several reasons for the increased stress and anxiety levels were identified, but social isolation and the increased workload were the most commonly reported. The most affected groups by the pandemic were females, younger staff, full-timers and those with disabilities or caring responsibilities.
Practical implications
This study offers a range of strategies to support staff's mental health and wellbeing; as such, it is of great interest to policymakers to inform their decisions of similar crisis events in the future. It also addresses some of the COVID-19 areas of research interest for the UK parliament.
Originality/value
The study's originality derives from exploring the pandemic's impact on UK HE staff's mental health and wellbeing by including professional staff's experiences alongside those of academics. It also expands the scant evidence concerning the pandemic's impact on HE staff in the UK.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Professor Dennis Nickson for his support and invaluable feedback throughout the review process. The authors would also like to extend their gratitude to the reviewers for their constructive feedback.
Citation
Kassem, R. and Mitsakis, F. (2024), "UK higher education staff's mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19", Employee Relations, Vol. 46 No. 2, pp. 229-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-03-2023-0166
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited