scholarly journals Accounting Faculty mental health: coping strategies against stress,

Author(s):  
Eduardo Mendes Nascimento ◽  
Marcia Carvalho Garcia ◽  
Edgard Cornacchione

ABSTRACT This study sought to investigate which coping strategies are most frequently used by accounting faculty and how they can modulate the perceived stress. The higher education academic environment is filled with events that are stressful in nature; however, little effort, especially in the area of accounting, has been employed in seeking to understand and propose guidelines that can improve well-being and pleasure in the teaching profession. A coping strategy is a behavior that protects the individual from psychological damage related to problematic social experiences; it is through these behaviors that individuals manage their day-to-day experiences, thus helping to maintain their mental health. The discussion about the use of strategies for coping with stress lacks an approach in higher education institutions (HEIs), as it indicates that various strategies are being employed ineffectively and signals that three of the statistically significant strategies belong to the dimension of those focused on dysfunctional emotions. And, more seriously, of those three strategies, two (self-reproach and denial) have further contributed to increasing the perception of stress. The Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI), composed of 26 questions with a five-point Likert scale, and the Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory), with 28 items and a four-point scale, were employed together with sociodemographic questions. An electronic questionnaire was sent to two thousand accounting faculty in Brazil. Altogether, 563 faculty members answered the questions. The analysis was conducted through association and multiple linear regression tests. It was verified that the average stress reported by the faculty members was 63% of the maximum TSI score, and the most prevalent strategies measured by the Brief COPE were planning, active coping, positive reinterpretation, use of instrumental support, self-reproach, and religion. Through linear regression estimation, it was concluded that two coping strategies (active coping and behavioral divestment) negatively moderated the faculty members’ stress, but two others (self-reproach and denial) raised their perception of stress. Moreover, it was discovered that the faculty members who were most vulnerable to stress use less adaptive coping strategies more intensely.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Nefeli Paraskevi Strongylaki ◽  
Georgios Pilafas ◽  
Anastasia Dermati ◽  
Despina Menti ◽  
Georgios Lyrakos

Background: The psychological impact of quarantine, due to the SARS COVID-19 outbreak, was examined with a specific focus on the relationship between 7 coping strategies: (i) active coping, (ii) positive reframing, (iii) acceptance, (iv) use of emotional support, (v) religion, (vi) substance use and (vii) self-blame and acute stress. This study aimed to identify specifically which of those coping strategies could increase or decrease acute stress levels.Method and Material: The data collection took place during the lockdown and was performed using online surveys. The finale sample size reached up to 1154 Greek adults (age M= 40.51). Two adapted and translated scales were used to measure the variables of interest, including: Brief-COPE questionnaire as well as Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS).Results: “Active coping”, “acceptance”, “positive reframing” and “emotional support”, four of the coping strategies examined, that were found to be significantly associated with stress reduction. Meanwhile, “religion”, “self-blame” and “substance use” were not associated with stress reduction. Conclusions: This study initially provides an insight of acute stress and effective coping strategies associated with the quarantine period during the COVID – 19 pandemic in Greece. The outcome of this study equip support for the expected inflation of the mental health issues stemmed from the unusual stressors, and urge clinicians, mental health providers, and public agencies to assemble, in an attempt to make possible the widespread implementation of more effective and beneficial coping strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 522.2-522
Author(s):  
B. A. Hiba ◽  
S. Meriem ◽  
S. Miladi ◽  
F. Alia ◽  
S. Leila ◽  
...  

Background:Studies have shown that the association of pain, stiffness, disability, and social restrictions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients induce a significantly increased level of depressed mood and stress. The use of favorable coping strategies could lead to improve physical and psychological well-being.Objectives:To evaluate coping strategies of RA patients and their associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes.Methods:A cross-sectional sample of patients with established RA was evaluated using measures of coping: the Brief-COPE (scores presented for the two overarching coping styles: Approach coping including active coping, emotional support, use of informational support, positive reframing, planning and acceptance, and Avoidant coping including self-distraction, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, venting and self-blame), the HRQoL (Mental and Physical Components [MCS/PCS] of the Short Form 12), and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease score (RAID]. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between coping strategies and HRQoL outcomes.Results:The study sample comprised 45 patients with a female predominance (91.9 %), and a mean age of 55.7± 9.9 years [38-77]. The median disease duration was 10 years [38-77]. The majority of patients (82.8 %) were positive for either rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP. Half of the patients were on biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Two active coping strategies were identified: Approach coping (E = 4.29) and Avoidant Coping (E=3.86), which explained 40% of the total variance. Mean RAID was 4.8± 1.6, while the mean PCS and MCS were 31.9 ± 9.4 and 39.7 ± 9.4, respectively. Approach coping and avoidant coping were associated with PCS (r= 0.4, p = 0.03), (r=0.3, p=0.008) respectively. However, no association was found between coping strategies and MCS or RAID (p>0.05). In the multivariate model, approach coping and avoidant coping were significant to explain lower disease-specific HRQoL (PCS) (Beta= 0.4, p= 0.008), (Beta=0.3, p=0.02) respectively.Conclusion:Approach and avoidance are associated with lower disease-specific HRQoL (PCS) but not with lower disease-specific HRQoL (MCS). Doctors should not forget to help their patients developing adaptive coping strategies.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Konaszewski ◽  
Małgorzata Niesiobędzka ◽  
Janusz Surzykiewicz

Abstract Background Mental health is an important aspect of the process of individual adaptation and development. The present study analysed the role played by resilience in mental health while taking into account both positive and negative indicators among juveniles. The aim of the first study (Study 1) is to analyse the relationship between resilience and the broadly understood mental health of juveniles admitted to youth education centres. Study 2 aimed to understand the direct and indirect role of resilience in shaping the mental health of juveniles. In the model we tested, we looked at the relationship among resilience, coping strategies, and mental well-being. Methods The first study involved 201 juveniles, and the second involved 253 juveniles. Resilience was measured by the Resilience Scale-14. Coping strategies were measured with the Brief-COPE Questionnaire, and information on mental health was obtained using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Results The results of both studies have shown that resilience is an important predictor of the mental health of juveniles, primarily with respect to its positive indicator. The stronger the severity of resilience, the greater the satisfaction with life and mental well-being of the juveniles surveyed. In addition, two coping strategies (seeking support from others and coping through emotions) mediated the relationship between resilience and mental well-being. Conclusions The results obtained indicate that work at the level of juvenile resilience leads to the strengthening of positive mental health indicators and buffering of negative indicators.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Quiroga-Garza ◽  
Ana C. Cepeda-Lopez ◽  
Sofía Villarreal Zambrano ◽  
Victor E. Villalobos-Daniel ◽  
David F. Carreno ◽  
...  

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in an increase in known risk factors for mental health problems. Mexico adopted lockdown and physical distancing as a containment strategy with potential consequences on day to day life, such as social isolation, loss of income and loneliness that can have important consequences in terms of mental health.Objective: We aimed to examine the effect of the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress, well-being and perceived physical health among Mexican-base respondents and to examine whether coping strategies would play a potential intermediating role in relation to these variables. Under the Existential Positive Psychology perspective, an emphasis was made on meaning-centered coping.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 30 and June 16th 2020 among 604 Mexicans-base respondents of which 471 were women and 132 men. Data was collected by using online questionnaires. Psychological distress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The Brief COPE Inventory was used to assess problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. We also used the Meaning-Centered Coping Scale (MCCS). PERMA-Profiler was used to assess well-being, perceived physical health, and loneliness. Profiler and Descriptive analyses and bivariate linear regression were performed to examine the association of variables.Results: 45.9% of the participants reported moderate to extremely severe psychological distress. Our results demonstrate that problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were positively related to psychological distress, whereas meaning-centered coping was negatively associated with distress. Furthermore, psychological distress played a potential negative role in the perceived physical health, while meaning-centered coping and well-being buffered the negative influence of psychological distress on perceived physical health (completely standardized indirect effect = –0.01, SE: 0.012, 95% CI [−0.065; −0.017].Conclusion: Meaning-centered coping was found to suppress the negative influence of psychological distress on sensation of decreased physical health corroborating the critical role of meaning in life in promoting well-being. Future studies can further examine the value of the critical role of meaning in life in promoting well-being as a protective factor against severe distress during traumatic events. Findings of this study can be used to orient policies and interventions aimed to alleviate suffering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2499
Author(s):  
Víctor-María López-Ramos ◽  
Benito León-del-Barco ◽  
Santiago Mendo-Lázaro ◽  
María-Isabel Polo-del-Río

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic had severe consequences on the health and well-being of millions of people. Different studies try to identify the main effects that the crisis and several lockdowns have had on the citizens’ mental health. This research analyses the coping strategies generated by students from a community group and a clinical group in response to this crisis, using the Coping Responses Inventory—Adult Form (CRI-A) by Moos with a sample of 1074 students of Universidad de Extremadura. Multivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis have been carried out, revealing, amongst other things, a greater predisposition of the clinical sample towards factors such as seeking guidance and support, cognitive avoidance or emotional discharge. Results show that students with prior mental health problems perform an unhealthy coping response based on avoidance strategies. This group of students suffers a double source of distress and anxiety, one derived from their prior psychopathologic problems and the stress of the lockdown and another one originating from an inefficient coping response, which makes coping strategies raise levels of distress and anxiety.


Author(s):  
Zhuang Wei ◽  
Ming-Yue Gao ◽  
Mary Fewtrell ◽  
Jonathan Wells ◽  
Jin-Yue Yu

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on breastfeeding women and to identify predictors of maternal mental health and coping. Methods Mothers aged ≥ 18 years with a breast-fed infant ≤ 18 months of age during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China, completed a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of lockdown consequences was performed and predictors of these outcomes were examined using stepwise linear regression. Results Of 2233 participants, 29.9%, 20.0% and 34.7% felt down, lonely, and worried, respectively, during the lockdown; however, 85.3% felt able to cope. Poorer maternal mental health was predicted by maternal (younger age, higher education) and infant (older age, lower gestation) characteristics, and social circumstances (husband unemployed or working from home, receiving advice from family, having enough space for the baby, living close to a park or green space). Conversely, better maternal mental health was predicted by higher income, employment requiring higher qualifications, more personal space at home, shopping or walking > once/week and lack of impact of COVID-19 on job or income. Mothers with higher education, more bedrooms, fair division of household chores and attending an online mother and baby group > once/week reported better coping. Conclusion The findings highlight maternal characteristics and circumstances that predict poorer mental health and reduced coping which could be used to target interventions in any future public health emergencies requiring social restrictions.


Author(s):  
Nader Gholi Ghorchian ◽  
Shahrooz Farjad ◽  
Ali Taghipour Zahir

As higher education plays a pivotal role in the economic well-being of modern societies, universities today are faced with increasing pressure in order to improve their accountability and performance. They have to redesign the research structure to achieve the set objectives. The present survey aimed at studying the factors and related indicators that affect the effectiveness of the research structure of the universities. The sample included 274 faculty members who were selected through stratified random method at 8 branches of Islamic Azad University in Tehran province (Iran). Research questions were: a) What key Factors influence the Effectiveness of the universities’ research structure? and b) What conceptual model can be designed? Finally, in this study using a questionnaire and factor analysis technique, eight factors were identified and ranked which contribute towards the effectiveness of research structure in universities . Finally, a conceptual model has been proposed for the universities to strengthen their research structure.


Author(s):  
Brianne H. Roos ◽  
Carey C. Borkoski

Purpose The purpose of this review article is to examine the well-being of faculty in higher education. Success in academia depends on productivity in research, teaching, and service to the university, and the workload model that excludes attention to the welfare of faculty members themselves contributes to stress and burnout. Importantly, student success and well-being is influenced largely by their faculty members, whose ability to inspire and lead depends on their own well-being. This review article underscores the importance of attending to the well-being of the people behind the productivity in higher education. Method This study is a narrative review of the literature about faculty well-being in higher education. The history of well-being in the workplace and academia, concepts of stress and well-being in higher education faculty, and evidence-based strategies to promote and cultivate faculty well-being were explored in the literature using electronic sources. Conclusions Faculty feel overburdened and pressured to work constantly to meet the demands of academia, and they strive for work–life balance. Faculty report stress and burnout related to excessively high expectations, financial pressures to obtain research funding, limited time to manage their workload, and a belief that individual progress is never sufficient. Faculty well-being is important for the individual and in support of scholarship and student outcomes. This article concludes with strategies to improve faculty well-being that incorporate an intentional focus on faculty members themselves, prioritize a community of well-being, and implement continuous high-quality professional learning.


Author(s):  
Vaishali Shanmugam

BACKGROUND: COVID -19 pandemic is a very stressful situation for doctors, who face the risk of infection in daily life. Coping is the process by which a person deals with stressful situations or demands. Identifying the coping strategies of our medical professionals will help us to understand their coping styles and to deliver effective interventions to enhance their mental well-being. METHODS: An online survey form with socio-demographic profile and BRIEF COPE tool for assessing different coping strategies was sent to interns, residents, and teaching faculty. The coping strategies were divided into emotion-based, problem-based, and dysfunctional coping, and spearman's correlation was done to determine any correlation between sociodemographic variables and the coping strategies. RESULTS: A total of 84 valid and complete responses were included in the study. There is a variable distribution of mean scores for problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional strategies. Age and marital status had a positive correlation with problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies meaning that older adults and married people used these strategies predominantly. Higher designation used problem-focused coping predominantly. Dysfunctional coping strategies had no correlation with any of the sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic factors affecting the coping mechanisms in medical professionals differ from those of the general population seen in previous studies. Within the group of medical professionals, those with higher age, higher designation and married had predominantly adaptive strategies. Interventions targetting maladaptive components of emotion-focused strategies and dysfunctional strategies should be aimed at a younger age group, unmarried people, interns, and residents among the medical professionals to better cope with this COVID scenario.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude-Hélène Mayer ◽  
Rian Viviers ◽  
Louise Tonelli

Orientation: Shame has been internationally researched in various cultural and societal contexts as well as across cultures in the workplace, schools and institutions of higher education. It is an emotional signal that refers to experienced incongruence of identity goals and the judgement of others.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to focus on experiences of shame in the South African (SA) workplace, to provide emic, in-depth insights into the experiences of shame of employees.Motivation for the study: Shame in the workplace often occurs and might impact negatively on mental health and well-being, capability, freedom and human rights. This article aims at gaining some in-depth understanding of shame experiences in SA workplaces. Building on this understanding the aim is to develop awareness in Industrial and Organisational Psychologists (IOPs), employees and organisations to cope with shame constructively in addition to add to the apparent void in the body of knowledge on shame in SA workplaces.Research design, approach and method: An interpretative hermeneutical research paradigm, based on Dilthey’s modern hermeneutics was applied. Data were collected through semistructured interviews of 11 employees narrating their experiences from various workplaces, including the military, consulting organisations and higher education institutions. Content analysis was used for data analysis and interpretation.Main findings: The major themes around which shameful experiences evolved included loss of face, mistreatment by others, low work quality, exclusion, lifestyle and internalised shame on failure in the workplace. Shame is experienced as a disturbing emotion that impacts negatively on the self within the work context. It is also experienced as reducing mental health and well-being at work.Practical/managerial implications: SA organisations need to be more aware of shame in the workplace, to address the potential negative effects of shame on employees, particularly if they are not prepared to reframe shame into a constructively and positively used emotion. Safe spaces should be made available to talk about shame. Strategies should be applied to deal with shame constructively.Contribution/value-add: This article expands an in-depth understanding of shame from emic and culture-specific perspectives within SA workplaces. The findings are beneficial to IOPs and organisations to understand what shame is from the perspective of SA employees across cultural groups. The article thereby adds value to theory and practice, offering IOPs a deeper understanding of shame in the work context.


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