Workplace stress and the student learning experience
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09684880610662042 |
| Pages | 167-178 |
| Published date | 01 April 2006 |
| Author | Anne Stevenson,Sarah Harper |
| Subject Matter | Education |
Workplace stress and the student
learning experience
Anne Stevenson
Department of Human Resource Management, Aberdeen Business School,
The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK, and
Sarah Harper
Department of Hotel, Tourism and Retail Management,
Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
Abstract
Purpose – To investigate the possible effects of workplace stress in academics on the student
learning experience.
Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were designed and distributed to all academic
staff at a Scottish Higher Education Institute. This measured perceived levels of stress amongst
academic staff and the possible impact of this on the learning experience of students.
Findings – Stress can be seen to impact both negatively and positively on the student learning
experience. However, over half of respondents considered themselves to be considerably or extremely
stressed and similar levels perceive that stress causes their teaching to be “below par” thus impacting
negatively on the student learning experience.
Research limitations/implications – The research was carried out in one institution and hence
results cannot be generalised to cover the whole higher education sector.
Practical implications – The findings, together with a growing awareness of the impact of
employee stress on organisations, emphasise the need for the institution, and individuals within it, to
control stress levels to ensure the student learning experience does not suffer. The paper does not
address the growing phenomenon of e-learning which may act as a stressor: further research is
recommended in this area.
Originality/value – This paper highlights that the detrimental effect of stress does not only impact
upon members of staff; stress may also impact negatively on the student learning experience.
Keywords Stress, Learning,Workplace
Paper type Research paper
Glossary
HSE Health and Safety Executive
SHEI Scottish Higher Education Institute
Introduction
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, 2004), different measures of stress
are not comparable, consequently it is difficult to state, with any degree of accuracy,
what trends are emerging in the area of work-related stress. The situation is
exacerbated by the contradictory findings reported on stress, for example, the respo nse
to stress by gender: some research indicates that women are more prone to stress
than men; other research indicates that men are more prone to stress than women
(HSE, 2004).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0968-4883.htm
Workplace stress
167
Quality Assurance in Education
Vol. 14 No. 2, 2006
pp. 167-178
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0968-4883
DOI 10.1108/09684880610662042
To continue reading
Request your trial