The Academic Minute

Banning books may not have the intended outcome. Sabari Rajan Karmegan, assistant professor of information systems and operations management at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University, reads along to find out why. Sabari Rajan Karmegam is an assistant professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at George Mason University’s Costello College of […]

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The mental wellbeing of those with “good jobs” can still suffer.

Ivy Bourgeault, professor in the school of sociological and anthropological studies at the University of Ottawa, determines what can be done.

Faculty Bio:

Dr. Ivy Bourgeault is a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions. She has garnered an international reputation for her research on the health workforce, particularly from a gender lens, with a recent focus on the psychological health and safety of professional work.

Transcript:

Getting into a profession is a highly coveted achievement. It’s what every parent encourages of their children, because these are considered the ‘good jobs.’ Yet, the stressful and demanding nature of their work takes a toll on their mental health.

Research we conducted in Canada reveals that there are high levels of work stress and workloads among professional workers, particularly during the pandemic. Women in the professions report significantly higher rates of work stress as well as life stress, related to the time pressures they experience and caring for children.

We also found that stigma surrounding the disclosure of mental health among professional workers prevents many from taking a leave of absence to address these concerns.

Take health professions for example. Health professional workers report higher levels of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and substance use than the general public. As a result, health professionals have higher rates of absenteeism due to illness and injury than those in other occupations.

Factors that encouraged health professionals to take a mental health leave included having supportive colleagues, supervisors and family. Support from colleagues and supervisors, as well as supportive workplace policies, programs and services and workplace accommodations, were also cited as factors making it easier for health professionals to return after taking a leave.

Overall, our study results underscore the need to recognize and de-stigmatize the mental health issues experienced by professional workers, as well as among their colleagues and employers.

Further, there is a need to take a gender-sensitive approach to develop more targeted and appropriate workplace mental health promotion initiatives that take professional workers full lives into account.

Read More:

https://www.ivylynnbourgeault.ca/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivy-bourgeault-377b7351/

X: https://twitter.com/DrIvyBourgeault

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Nursing homes were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so what did we learn from the pandemic? Anna Amirkhanyan, professor of public administration and policy at the School of Public Affairs at American University, digs into the data. Anna Amirkhanyan is a professor of public administration and policy at American University. Her research focuses on […]

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Recovering from a suicide attempt can be challenging in many ways. Yosef Sokol, clinical assistant professor at the School of Health Sciences at Touro University, explores a new way to treat those who are struggling. Dr. Yosef Sokol is clinical assistant professor in the PsyD program at Touro University School of Health Sciences. Dr. Sokol […]

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Social media influencers can change perceptions about a place through their content. Mitchell Gallagher, PhD candidate in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University, explores how. Mitchell Gallagher is a PhD candidate at Wayne State University, with research interests in East Asian politics, soft power, and international relations theory. Having spent […]

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Sexual assault perpetrators carry similar character traits, so how do we identity them? Richard E. Mattson, director of the undergraduate program and a professor of psychology at Harpur College at Binghamton University, explains. Richard E. Mattson joined the Department of Psychology at Binghamton University in 2013. Mattson’s lab focuses on perceptions and attitudes relevant to […]

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Diversifying academic health programs is still a crucial goal for higher education institutions. Idia Bintie Thurston, professor of public health & health sciences and applied psychology at Northeastern University, explores a roadmap to do so. Idia Binitie Thurston, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor of Public Health & Health Sciences and Applied Psychology, Affiliate […]

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The opioid crisis is still a big issue with no end in sight. Kory London, associate professor of emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, explores a new method for treating those afflicted. Dr. London is an emergency and addiction physician who practices in Center City and South Philadelphia.  He is the co-director of […]

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Customer service centers can be hit or miss for consumers. Sumantra Sarkar, associate professor at the School of Management at Binghamton University, explores whether A.I. can help. Sumantra Sarkar is a behavioral information systems (IS) researcher who employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. He studies IS governance, healthcare IT, managerial decision making and security. Sarkar […]

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Main Character Syndrome is taking over the lives of some in today’s society. Anna Gotlib, associate professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College City University of New York, determine why this can be dangerous. Anna Gotlib is an associate professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College CUNY, specializing in feminist bioethics/medical ethics, moral psychology, and philosophy of […]

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