“Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work
Recent evidence suggests that it remains difficult for academic researchers to preserve global well-being when working in the UK higher education sector. Our study aimed to explore academic researchers' perspectives on how they feel their mental health and well-being could be better supported w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023076624 |
| _version_ | 1797646528840466432 |
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| author | Helen Nicholls Danielle Lamb Sonia Johnson Paul Higgs Vanessa Pinfold Jo Billings |
| author_facet | Helen Nicholls Danielle Lamb Sonia Johnson Paul Higgs Vanessa Pinfold Jo Billings |
| author_sort | Helen Nicholls |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent evidence suggests that it remains difficult for academic researchers to preserve global well-being when working in the UK higher education sector. Our study aimed to explore academic researchers' perspectives on how they feel their mental health and well-being could be better supported within the UK higher education system. Using a combination of semi-structured and narrative interviewing techniques, we gathered the perspectives of 26 researchers. Narrative and reflexive thematic analysis were then used on the data collected. Our findings highlight the need to tackle systemic issues such job insecurity and unrealistically high workloads, given the risk they can pose to researchers' mental health and well-being. Our findings also highlight the key influence of managers and supervisors in creating a supportive environment, and the importance of going beyond what support is offered. That is, it is vital to effectively promote any existing or emerging support systems, and to be proactive in offering this support. Given the diversity identified in researchers’ individual situations, it is important that support is flexible and takes into consideration individual requirements and preferences. Higher education authorities and institutions need to determine how they can foster a healthy, caring environment for researchers working in this sector going forwards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:03:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9113d0026e1048e0ada784e20a1e29e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:03:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-9113d0026e1048e0ada784e20a1e29e32023-10-30T06:06:09ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-10-01910e20454“Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at workHelen Nicholls0Danielle Lamb1Sonia Johnson2Paul Higgs3Vanessa Pinfold4Jo Billings5Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, United KingdomDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United KingdomDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United KingdomThe McPin Foundation, London, United KingdomDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United KingdomRecent evidence suggests that it remains difficult for academic researchers to preserve global well-being when working in the UK higher education sector. Our study aimed to explore academic researchers' perspectives on how they feel their mental health and well-being could be better supported within the UK higher education system. Using a combination of semi-structured and narrative interviewing techniques, we gathered the perspectives of 26 researchers. Narrative and reflexive thematic analysis were then used on the data collected. Our findings highlight the need to tackle systemic issues such job insecurity and unrealistically high workloads, given the risk they can pose to researchers' mental health and well-being. Our findings also highlight the key influence of managers and supervisors in creating a supportive environment, and the importance of going beyond what support is offered. That is, it is vital to effectively promote any existing or emerging support systems, and to be proactive in offering this support. Given the diversity identified in researchers’ individual situations, it is important that support is flexible and takes into consideration individual requirements and preferences. Higher education authorities and institutions need to determine how they can foster a healthy, caring environment for researchers working in this sector going forwards.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023076624 |
| spellingShingle | Helen Nicholls Danielle Lamb Sonia Johnson Paul Higgs Vanessa Pinfold Jo Billings “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work Heliyon |
| title | “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work |
| title_full | “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work |
| title_fullStr | “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work |
| title_short | “Fix the system … the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken” A qualitative study exploring UK academic researchers’ views on support at work |
| title_sort | fix the system the people who are in it are not the ones that are broken a qualitative study exploring uk academic researchers views on support at work |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023076624 |
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