ra stress perception survey “ raspers”...mpib - eu office ra stress perception survey “...

MPIB - EU Office

RA Stress Perception Survey “RASPerS”Jennifer Shambrook, University of Central Florida, OrlandoJan Andersen, DTU, Copenhagen, DK

AK Werenskiold, MPI of Biochemistry, Martinsried, DE

Survey Population Name

Survey Population Number

Participants needed for 95% confidence

Current number of surveys collected

BESTPRAC 355 185 218EARMA 846 264 273

Study performed on SurveyMonkeyApril – May 2016Mailings to EARMA and BESTPRAC members

Study details

Luleå, EARMA Annual Conference June 2016 Dr. AK Werenskiold, EU-Office MPI of Biochemistry

The average RMA that responded to the survey is afemale academic, around 40 yrs old, married or partnered.

She holds a full time job with 45 hrs work as a senior officer focusing on pre and post-award functions, with 5-10 years experience and probably as team leader. Her annual income is around 45,000 - 68,000 €.

The typical RA in RASPerS (i)


She likes fruits and veggies,is normal weighta non-smokerdrinks no more than one glass of alcoholic beverages /day engages in moderate physical activity a few days every weeklargely makes use of available predictive medical check-ups (mammography, PAP test, cholesterol screening).

The typical RA in RASPerS (ii)


Differences between EARMA andBESTPRAC cohorts

14%

21%

18%

1%

45%

9%

35%

15%

1%

39%

0% 50%

DEPARTMENT …

PRE-AWARD

POST-AWARD

RESEARCH ETHICS AND …

PRE AND POST AWARD

More pre-award

EARMA BESTPRAC

2%

36%

34%

26%

2%

7%

25%

33%

30%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

<1

1<5

5<10

10<20

>20

More experience (yrs in RA)


Differences between EARMA andBESTPRAC cohorts

1%

8%

28%

27%

37%

0%

9%

32%

29%

30%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

EXECUTIVE (PROVOST, VICE PRESIDENT, ASST

VP/PROVOST, ETC.)

DIRECTOR (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR)

ASSOCIATE OR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (TEAM LEAD,

SUPERVISOR, OR …

SENIOR LEVEL INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR

(MANAGER/OFFICER …

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR (COORDINATOR,

SPECIALIST, …

More senior

46%

18%

28%

6%

3%

16%

20%

40%

21%

4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

UNDEFINED

€ 32,000<45,700

€ 45,700<68,600

€ 68,600<91,400

€ >91,400

Higher wage (€/year)

?


In both cohorts 90% agree (strongly) that ”Over the past few years, my job has become more and more demanding.”

5%

25%

22%

50%

50%

35%

40%

24%

37%

5%

1%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Your perceived level of work relatedstress

Amount of stress at home due todemands of work

Feelings of anxiety due to competingdemands of work and home

Extremely high High Moderate Minimal

Perceived stress


2%

8%

19%

71%

4%

17%

23%

56%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

NONE, OR ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION

SOMEWHAT LESS THAN HALF

SOMEWHAT MORE THAN HALF

VIRTUALLY ALL

Tasks waiting after absence …

BESTPRAC EARMA

Stressor: workload


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

does your job require you to work very fast?

…EARMA

does your job require you to work very hard?

…EARMA

does your job leave you with little time to get things done?

…EARMA

is there a great deal to be done?

…EARMA

is there a marked increase in the amount of concentration…

…EARMA

is there a marked increase in how fast you have to think?

…EARMA

are you given a chance to do the things you do the best?

…EARMA

can you use the skill from your previous experience and training?

…EARMA

Very often Fairly often Sometimes Occasionally Rarely

Frequency of stressors at work

Q33 How often ….


Influencing working conditions

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

the variety of tasks you perform? - BESTPRAC…. EARMA

the availability of supplies and equipment you need to do your……. EARMA

the order in which you perform tasks at work?- BESTPRAC…. EARMA

the amount of work you do?- BESTPRAC…. EARMA

the pace of your work, that is how fast or slow you work?-……. EARMA

the quality of the work that you do?- BESTPRAC…. EARMA

the arrangement and decoration of your work area?- BESTPRAC…. EARMA

the decisions concerning which individuals in your work unit do……. EARMA

Much Little-moderate Very little

Q34 How much influence do you have over …


32%

24%

18%

32%

38%

35%

23%

25%

36%

13%

13%

10%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

neglected your physical health?

neglected your mental or spiritual health?

neglected your family or social relationships?

For demands of your job, have you …

Never Only on rare occasion Yes, but not often Yes, frequently

To cope with the demands, RA tend to neglect physical more than mental health (e.g. working sick). Private life is protected.

Coping with stress


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Your immediate supervisor (boss)-EARMA

Your supervisor- BESTPRAC

Other people at work-EARMA

Other people at work- BESTPRAC

Your spouse, friends and relatives-EARMA

Your spouse, friends and relatives- BESTPRAC

Don't have any such person Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Q 39. How much can each of these people be relied on when things get tough at work?

Relying on peopleThe private social network is the key support also for work-related matters, but colleagues get close.


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Your immediate supervisor (boss)-EARMA

Your supervisor- BESTPRAC

Other people at work-EARMA

Other people at work- BESTPRAC

Your spouse, friends and relatives-EARMA

Your spouse, friends and relatives- BESTPRAC

Don't have any such person Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

Making your work life easier for you

Q 37. How much does each of these people go out of their way to do things to make your work life easier for you?


Time strain – family-related

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

The demands of my family or spouse/partnerinterfere with work-related activities.

I have to put off doing things at work because ofdemands on my time at home.

Things I want to do at work don’t get done because of the demands of my family or spouse/partner.

My home life interferes with my responsibilities atwork such as getting to work on time,…

Family-related strain interferes with my ability toperform job-related duties.

Disagree Neutral Agree

20-30% feel that family related demands interfere with workobligations.


0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

The demands of my work interfere with my homeand family life.

The amount of time my job takes up makes itdifficult to fulfill family responsibilities.

Things I want to do at home do not get donebecause of the demands my job puts on me.

My job produces strain that makes it difficult tofulfill family duties.

Due to work-related duties, I have to make changesto my plans for family activities.

Disagree Neutral Agree

Time strain – work-relatedUp to 50% feel that work related demands interfere withfamily obligations


0.00% 5.00% 10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%40.00%

...actually I'm not staying, I am looking for…I don't know how to do anything else for this…

It is too late for me to change careersI enjoy working with faculty

I enjoy my co-workersOther (please specify)

I love the challengeI find it interesting

I enjoy working with brilliant peopleI enjoy doing something different every day

I enjoy the university environmentI am constantly learning something new

I feel that I am making an important contribution

BESTPRAC EARMA

Still, lots of reasons to stay in RA !


THANK YOU – Questions?

ra stress perception survey “ raspers”...mpib - eu office ra stress perception survey “...

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