CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Uncertainties among faculty working in Sweden: Experiences of and implications for the psychosocial work environment, health, well-being, and work-family interference
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Work and organizational psychology.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5038-8216
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Research suggests that the current employment and working conditions in academia have implications for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Not only is this of concern regarding individual faculty and their lives, but there may be implications for quality in education and research, and society’s capacity to meet global challenges may be at stake. Empirical findings from international studies detail the insecurities and uncertainties associated with working in academia, which may explain various health-related consequences, yet the situation in Sweden remains largely understudied. Given that labor market institutions may shape employment and working conditions, context-specific investigations are needed to provide insight into the individual experiences of faculty in Sweden. This thesis seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating uncertainties associated with working in Swedish academia, namely employment contract type and job insecurity, the psychosocial work environment, and any implications for faculty health, well-being and work-family interference. Three different methodological approaches are employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of faculty experiences in Sweden.

Study I investigated permanent and fixed-term faculty experiences of the psychosocial work environment, specifically effort and reward, in relation to burnout, self-rated health, and work-family conflict (n = 2335). By means of a variable-oriented approach, consistent main effects were found across both contract groups: effort was associated with all three health-related outcomes, and reward was associated with burnout and self-rated health. Interaction effects were only found for permanent faculty. Overall, permanent and fixed-term faculty seem to appraise the psychosocial work environment in both similar and dissimilar ways, with health-related implications for faculty.

Study II employed a person-oriented approach to explore faculty experiences of job insecurity (n = 2729). Profiles of job insecurity, consisting of quantitative and qualitative dimensions were identified and investigated in relation to health-related indicators including exhaustion, depressive symptoms, well-being, and work-family conflict. Five unique profiles of job insecurity were identified characterized by varying concurrent levels of quantitative and qualitative job insecurity. Increasingly insecure profiles coincided with poorer scores on all health-related indicators and the demographic compositions within profiles revealed that those most insecure held both permanent and fixed-term contracts. While the majority of faculty reported low levels of job insecurity, some faculty, belonging to the most insecure profile, may be at risk regarding their health and well-being.

Study III explored individual faculty’s experiences of insecurity and eudaimonia, specifically psychological well-being, through qualitative interviews with 19 faculty. Through reflexive thematic analysis, two themes were developed: Staying afloat?, consisting of four subthemes, and I’m not yet where I’m supposed to be, consisting of three subthemes. Together the themes reveal how faculty navigate various tensions, related to the different dimensions of psychological well-being, in their experiences and pursuits of fulfillment. Experiences of insecurity do not preclude psychological well-being, rather, they seem to shape parallel manifestations of eudaimonia. 

The three empirical studies reveal that uncertainties associated with working in Swedish academia are related to faculty health, well-being, and their personal lives. Specifically, uncertainty in terms of employment contracts and job insecurity suggests that faculty without a “real” permanent employment are most vulnerable with regards to their health, well-being and experiences of work-family interference. Despite this, faculty with experiences of uncertainty still experience and pursue psychological well-being in various ways. These findings have implications for issues pertaining to sustainable work in Swedish academia.

Abstract [sv]

Forskning tyder på att anställnings- och arbetsvillkoren inom högskolan har implikationer för lärares och forskares hälsa, välbefinnande och privatliv. Det är inte enbart en fråga som rör enskilda lärare/forskare och deras liv, utan det kan även ha konsekvenser för kvalitet i högre utbildning och forskning och i förlängningen kan samhällets förmåga att möta globala utmaningar stå på spel. Internationella studier lyfter fram den otrygghet och osäkerhet som är kopplad till arbete inom högskolesektorn, vilket kan förklara olika hälsorelaterade konsekvenser. Dock är situationen i Sverige fortfarande i stort sett outforskad. Eftersom arbetslivets aktörer har en avgörande roll i utformning av anställnings- och arbetsvillkor behövs kontextuellt förankrade studier för att klargöra individuella erfarenheter bland lärare/forskare i Sverige. Den här avhandlingen syftar till att fylla denna kunskapslucka genom att undersöka osäkerheter relaterade till arbete inom svensk högskolesektor, i form av anställningsformer och anställningsotrygghet, psykosociala arbetsmiljöfaktorer och eventuella implikationer för hälsa, välbefinnande och konflikt mellan arbete och familj bland lärare och forskare. För att få en övergripande förståelse används tre olika metodansatser.

I Studie I undersöktes tillsvidare- och visstidsanställdas upplevelser av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön, mätt i form av ansträngning och belöning, i relation till utbrändhet, självskattad hälsa samt konflikt mellan arbete och familj (n = 2335). Genom en variabel-orienterad ansats identifierades huvudeffekter i båda grupperna: ansträngning var genomgående förenad med alla tre hälsorelaterade indikatorer, medan belöning var förenad med utbrändhet och självskattad hälsa. Interaktionseffekter framkom endast för tillsvidareanställda. Sammantaget verkar både tillsvidare- och visstidsanställda uppleva den psykosociala arbetsmiljön på både liknande och olika sätt, vilket har hälsorelaterade implikationer.

Studie II använde en person-orienterad ansats för att undersöka upplevelser av anställningsotrygghet (n = 2729). Profiler av anställningsotrygghet, inkluderande kvantitativa och kvalitativa dimensioner, identifierades och undersöktes i relation till hälsorelaterade indikatorer, såsom utmattning, depressiva symtom, välbefinnande och konflikt mellan arbete och familj. Fem unika profiler identifierades. Dessa kännetecknades av varierande samtidiga nivåer av kvantitativ och kvalitativ anställningsotrygghet. Mer otrygga profiler var förenade med sämre skattningar i alla hälsorelaterade indikatorer. Den demografiska sammansättningen i profilerna visade att de mest otrygga hade såväl tillsvidare- som visstidsanställningar. Även om majoriteten rapporterade låga nivåer av anställningsotrygghet framstår de som tillhör den mest otrygga profilen som mest sårbara och i riskzonen när det gäller hälsa och välbefinnande.

I Studie III undersöktes enskilda individers upplevelser av osäkerhet och välbefinnande, i form av psykologiskt välbefinnande, genom kvalitativa intervjuer med 19 personer. Genom reflexiv tematisk analys identifierades två teman: Hålla sig flytande?, som består av fyra underteman, och Jag är ännu inte där jag borde vara, som består av tre underteman. Tillsammans visar dessa teman hur individer navigerar mellan olika spänningsfält, med koppling till olika aspekter av psykologiskt välbefinnande, i sina upplevelser och i sin strävan efter förverkligande. Upplevelser av osäkerhet utesluter inte psykologiskt välbefinnande, utan verkar snarare forma parallella uttryck av ett övergripande välbefinnande.  

Sammantaget visar de tre empiriska studierna att den osäkerhet som arbete inom den svenska högskolesektorn för med sig har koppling till hälsa, välbefinnande och privatliv. Osäkerhet i form av anställningsform och anställningsotrygghet tyder på att lärare och forskare utan en ”riktig” fast anställning är sårbara när det gäller hälsa, välbefinnande och upplevelser av konflikt mellan arbete och familj. Trots erfarenheter av osäkerhet finns fortfarande upplevelser och strävan efter välbefinnande. Dessa forskningsresultat har implikationer för frågor som rör hållbarhet i svensk högskolesektor.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University , 2025. , p. 70
Keywords [en]
employment contracts, job insecurity, psychosocial work environment, health, well-being, faculty, higher education, Sweden
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-236895ISBN: 978-91-8107-052-1 (print)ISBN: 978-91-8107-053-8 (electronic)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-236895DiVA, id: diva2:1919652
Public defence
2025-02-12, Hörsal 2, Hus 2, Albanovägen 18, Stockholm, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-01-20 Created: 2024-12-09 Last updated: 2025-02-10Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. How do Effort, Reward, and Their Combined Effects Predict Burnout, Self-rated Health, and Work-family Conflict Among Permanent and Fixed-term Faculty?
Open this publication in new window or tab >>How do Effort, Reward, and Their Combined Effects Predict Burnout, Self-rated Health, and Work-family Conflict Among Permanent and Fixed-term Faculty?
2023 (English)In: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, ISSN 2398-7308, Vol. 67, no 4, p. 462-472Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Employment conditions and psychosocial factors have been linked to various health-related outcomes in different occupational groups, but few studies focus on the conditions in academia. This study explores the effects of effort, reward, and their interaction to explain health-related outcomes, namely burnout, self-rated health, and work-family conflict among academic faculty in Sweden. We also explore these effects among those with permanent and fixed-term employment contracts. Questionnaire data, collected online in 2016, came from 2335 employees (57% women) with a doctoral degree, working at a Swedish higher education institution. Latent moderation analysis combined with multi-group analysis was conducted. Main effects of effort were found for all health-related outcomes revealing that effort was associated with higher burnout, poorer self-rated health, and greater work-family conflict. Reward was negatively associated with burnout and self-rated health revealing that reward reduced burnout and improved self-rated health. The interaction between effort and reward was significantly associated with all outcomes among permanent contract employees, but was non-significant among those with fixed-term contracts. This may suggest that fixed-term faculty are less affected by the presence or lack of reward. Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of the psychosocial work environment to understand health-related consequences for permanent and fixed-term faculty with a doctoral degree.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press, 2023
Keywords
HEI, psychosocial work environment, structural equation modeling, temporary employment, work-home interference
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-213580 (URN)10.1093/annweh/wxac094 (DOI)000908327200001 ()2-s2.0-85150982937 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2019-01311
Note

This study was conducted as a part of the NOWSTARS research program financed by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE Grant No. 2019-01311).

Available from: 2023-01-10 Created: 2023-01-10 Last updated: 2024-12-09Bibliographically approved
2. Are profiles of job insecurity associated with health‐related indicators among faculty in Swedish academia?
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Are profiles of job insecurity associated with health‐related indicators among faculty in Swedish academia?
2025 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, ISSN 0036-5564, E-ISSN 1467-9450, Vol. 66, no 1, p. 85-97Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Job insecurity is a work stressor associated with various health-related impairments. As concerns about the ubiquity of job insecurity in academia have become increasingly prominent, the potential implications of job insecurity for the health and well-being of faculty require attention. Specifically, these implications may vary between groups within academia, yet little is known about such variations, particularly with respect to different indicators of health and well-being. This study aims to identify and examine profiles of job insecurity (including quantitative and qualitative dimensions) in relation to exhaustion, depressive symptoms, well-being, and work–family conflict among faculty in Sweden. Self-reports in questionnaires were collected in 2021 from a representative sample of faculty, with a doctoral degree, working in Swedish public higher education institutions (N = 2,729 respondents; 48% women; average age: 50 years; 82% born in Sweden). Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify profiles of job insecurity, followed by statistical comparisons on demographic covariates and health-related indicators across profiles. The latent profile analysis revealed five job insecurity profiles: the moderately insecure (n = 215), the secure (n = 1777), the secure; quality-concerned (n = 406), the insecure; employment-concerned (n = 177), and the insecure (n = 154). Twelve percent of the sample was identified as vulnerable, particularly the insecure profile, where these individuals may be most at a risk for exhaustion disorder and depression. Among faculty in Sweden, quantitative and qualitative dimensions of job insecurity appear to be closely connected, with the qualitative dimension seemingly more informative for health-related indicators.

Keywords
job insecurity, work stressor, health-related indicators, Sweden, academia
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-233939 (URN)10.1111/sjop.13064 (DOI)001297481800001 ()2-s2.0-85202072240 (Scopus ID)
Note

Thank you to all respondents for their participation. This study was conducted as a part of the NOWSTARS research program financed by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE Grant No. 2019-01311). Also, Stockholm University supported the first and last authors (PhD student position and research time).

Available from: 2024-10-01 Created: 2024-10-01 Last updated: 2025-01-24
3. Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: Exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: Exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Purpose: Job insecurity characterizes academic work, with potential risks for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Notwithstanding, faculty with job insecurity experiences may still find academia conducive to pursuing personal fulfillment. As faculty experiences of psychological well-being may be colored by insecurity, this study sought to qualitatively investigate the ways in which experiences of insecurity and psychological well-being co-occur. 

Methods: This study followed a questionnaire study of a representative sample of faculty in Swedish academia and their job insecurity perceptions, inviting the most insecure to participate. The participant group included 19 faculty from nine public Swedish higher education institutions. Transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the six theoretical dimensions of psychological well-being. 

Results: Two themes were developed: 1) Staying afloat?, and 2) I’m not yet where I’m supposed to be. These themes elucidate faculty experiences of managing their current work (and personal) situations, and reveal how faculty orient themselves in relation to their futures, pasts and presents. 

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate how experiences of insecurity co-exist with psychological well-being in constraining and enhancing faculty well-being. This reveals how psychological well-being involves a dynamic process of negotiation, especially during transitional periods.   

Keywords
quantitative job insecurity, qualitative job insecurity, eudaimonia, psychological well-being, faculty, higher education institutions
National Category
Social Sciences
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-236942 (URN)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2019-01311
Available from: 2024-12-09 Created: 2024-12-09 Last updated: 2024-12-09

Open Access in DiVA

Uncertainties among faculty working in Sweden(2464 kB)70 downloads
File information
File name FULLTEXT01.pdfFile size 2464 kBChecksum SHA-512
8861d88db4050512caaad6b0f7143bcd46447f828c95baa995160046edb543d9f91c37a9a69fe46d73f62985136a34e035c412dcfa68739aabb4c6c58b03f4c9
Type fulltextMimetype application/pdf

Authority records

Tanimoto, Anna S.

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Tanimoto, Anna S.
By organisation
Work and organizational psychology
Psychology

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar
Total: 71 downloads
The number of downloads is the sum of all downloads of full texts. It may include eg previous versions that are now no longer available

isbn
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

isbn
urn-nbn
Total: 650 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf