Data pertaining to stress and job satisfaction of faculty at five Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges in east Tennessee were collected and analyzed in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to all full-time faculty at the colleges, with 51.3% returned. Questionnaires consisted of a socio-demographic survey, the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) to measure stress levels, and the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) to measure job satisfaction.
Of those responding, 92.4% were white, 76.5% were married, 61.2% were female, 58.9% were tenured, and 81.3% were 40 or older, with 52.2% over 50. Only 1.9% were 30 or younger, but 51.1% had been in their current positions for six years or less. A total of 72.4% were assistant (22.9%) or associate (49.5%) professors, with 19.2% ranking as instructors and 8.4% as professors.
Previous factor analysis of FSI items determined the dimensions Reward/Recognition, Time Constraints, Departmental Influence, and Student Interaction. In this study, faculty FSI scores implied low stress levels in Reward/Recognition and Departmental Influence, with moderate levels in Time Constraints and Student Interaction. Those in position for less than three years, non-whites, and non-tenured faculty reported significantly less stress in Student Interaction. Tenured faculty and associate professors were significantly more pressured by Time Constraints than non-tenured or other-ranked faculty.
The JDI consisted of six sub-scales: Work on Job, Pay, Opportunities for Promotion, Supervision, People on Job, and Job in General. Respondents indicated high satisfaction in Work, Supervision, People, and Job in General but showed dissatisfaction with Pay. Negative feelings were measured in Opportunities for Promotion, with significantly less satisfaction for older, more experienced, tenured faculty, and associate professors. Non-tenured faculty members were significantly more satisfied in Work and Supervision than were tenured respondents.
Correlation analysis showed significant inverse relationships among all FSI dimensions and JDI sub-scales. In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, FSI dimensions were significant predictors of satisfaction in all JDI sub-scales, whereas the socio-demographic variables were significant predictors only for Opportunities for Promotion.
Recommended were longitudinal studies of stress and satisfaction among specific groups and/or colleges. Encouraged were stress management programs and improved systems of reward and recognition for faculty.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-1138 |
| Date | 01 December 2001 |
| Creators | McCracken, Carolyn G. |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright by the authors. |
Page generated in 0.0153 seconds