Interrelation between job-stress sources, resources and work engagement among Central and Eastern European academics

Kovács, Klára and Bălțătescu, Sergiu and Bíró, Éva and Tódor, Imre (2025) Interrelation between job-stress sources, resources and work engagement among Central and Eastern European academics. QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 31 (1). pp. 88-107. ISSN 1353-8322

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Abstract

This study investigated the sources of job stress and resources and their relationship with work engagement for 821 university academics across five countries (Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia). The factors assessed included workload, performance appraisal, teaching-role diversity, management support, working conditions, peer support, and development opportunities. The results indicate that management support was the strongest predictor of work engagement. Performance appraisal was negatively associated with engagement. Peer support was rated highly in Hungary and Romania. Academics without degrees reported less stress than PhD holders. Senior academics perceived more support and higher engagement than research academics. Overall, academics were least satisfied with their salaries. These findings indicate that enhancing leadership and reforming performance evaluations could increase academics’ work engagement. Fostering workplace relationships and supporting young academics may also improve well-being. This study provides insights into occupational stress and resources among European university academics.

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