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The Unbearable Lightness of the Academic Work: The Positive and Negative Sides of Heavy Work Investment in a Sample of Italian University Professors and Researchers

Author

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  • Daniela Converso

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Ilaria Sottimano

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Giorgia Molinengo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Barbara Loera

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

Universities perform very demanding tasks within a workplace characterized by a critical psychosocial environment. Against this backdrop, the aim of this study is to extend the current literature on the job sustainability of faculty professors, examine the associations of certain job resources (meaningfulness of work, reward) and job demands (work overload, conflict among colleagues) with workaholism, burnout, engagement. A self-report questionnaire was administered within a public higher education institution in Italy to a sample constituted by 291 professors. The results of path analysis show that meaningfulness of work and reward positively correlate with work engagement, work satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing and ward off emotional exhaustion and intention to leave. Work overload correlates positively with workaholism, work-family conflict and intention to leave and negatively with job satisfaction. Finally, workaholism correlates with work engagement and mediates the relationship between work overload and work-family conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological discomfort. The study highlights that to support the work of academic workers and build healthy and sustainable universities, it is necessary to promote job resources and control job demands. Moreover, the study highlights that work engagement and workaholism can be respectively considered as the positive and negative sides of heavy work investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniela Converso & Ilaria Sottimano & Giorgia Molinengo & Barbara Loera, 2019. "The Unbearable Lightness of the Academic Work: The Positive and Negative Sides of Heavy Work Investment in a Sample of Italian University Professors and Researchers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2439-:d:225662
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    1. Abdul Samad Kakar & Roselina Ahmad Saufi & Babin Dhas Devadhasan & Natanya Meyer & Seetharampalayam Chettiannan Vetrivel & Róbert Magda, 2021. "The Mediating Role of Person-Job Fit between Work-Life Balance (WLB) Practices and Academic Turnover Intentions in India’s Higher Educational Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Chiara Ghislieri & Domenico Sanseverino & Tindara Addabbo & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Rosy Musumeci & Ilenia Picardi & Patrizia Tomio & Gloria Guidetti & Daniela Converso, 2022. "The Show Must Go On: A Snapshot of Italian Academic Working Life during Mandatory Work from Home through the Results of a National Survey," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Alina Simona Tecau & Cristinel Petrisor Constantin & Radu Constantin Lixandroiu & Ioana Bianca Chitu & Gabriel Bratucu, 2020. "Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Heavy Work Investment in Romania," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(Special 1), pages 1049-1049, November.
    4. Ion Popa & Simona Catalina Stefan & Catalina Florentina Albu & stefan Catalin Popa & Cristian Vlad, 2020. "The Impact of National Culture on Employees' Attitudes Toward Heavy Work Investment: Comparative Approach Romania vs. Japan," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(Special 1), pages 1014-1014, November.
    5. Ovidiu Popa-Velea & Liliana Veronica Diaconescu & Iuliana Raluca Gheorghe & Oana Olariu & Iolanda Panaitiu & Mariana Cerniţanu & Ludmila Goma & Irina Nicov & Larisa Spinei, 2019. "Factors Associated with Burnout in Medical Academia: An Exploratory Analysis of Romanian and Moldavian Physicians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Rodica Cristina Butnaru & Alexandru Anichiti & Gina Ionela Butnaru & Alina Petronela Haller, 2020. "Heavy Work Investment from the Perspective of Cultural Factors and Outcomes by Types of Investors," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(Special 1), pages 1159-1159, November.
    7. Jing Xiu & Zhenduo Zhang & Zhigang Li & Junwei Zheng, 2019. "How Do Coworkers Aid in Coping with Emotional Exhaustion? An Experience Sampling Method Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-14, August.

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