The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model

Like many other sectors, women in higher education have had negative experiences with sexual harassment. This study examines the coping mechanisms used by female lecturer/researchers and their impact on burnout. Based on Occupational Stress Theory, this research specifically analyzes the mediating r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Hassane Gharbi, Riadh Brini, Tamer M. Abdelghani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/27
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850082021817188352
author Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
Hassane Gharbi
Riadh Brini
Tamer M. Abdelghani
author_facet Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
Hassane Gharbi
Riadh Brini
Tamer M. Abdelghani
author_sort Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
collection DOAJ
description Like many other sectors, women in higher education have had negative experiences with sexual harassment. This study examines the coping mechanisms used by female lecturer/researchers and their impact on burnout. Based on Occupational Stress Theory, this research specifically analyzes the mediating role of three coping strategies, i.e., problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidant coping. A quantitative survey was conducted among 800 Tunisian women teacher-researchers, with 613 complete responses that are valid for analysis. The results revealed that under the influence of sexual harassment, women in Tunisian higher education institutions suffer increased burnout. Structural equation analysis shows that emotion-focused coping has a partial mediation effect, while avoidant coping fully mediates the link between harassment and burnout. This research adds to the literature on sexual harassment and suggests implications for the prevention and support of victims in higher education institutions.
format Article
id doaj-art-74e71ceaa2c24b0a9d1ca9f142697bb9
institution DOAJ
issn 2075-4698
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Societies
spelling doaj-art-74e71ceaa2c24b0a9d1ca9f142697bb92025-08-20T02:44:36ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982025-01-011522710.3390/soc15020027The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation ModelAbu Elnasr E. Sobaih0Hassane Gharbi1Riadh Brini2Tamer M. Abdelghani3Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsaa 31982, Saudi ArabiaManagement Department, Faculté des Sciences Économiques et de Gestion de Nabeul, Université de Carthage, Carthage 1054, TunisiaManagement Department, Faculté des Sciences Économiques et de Gestion de Nabeul, Université de Carthage, Carthage 1054, TunisiaSocial Studies Department, Faculty of Arts, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi ArabiaLike many other sectors, women in higher education have had negative experiences with sexual harassment. This study examines the coping mechanisms used by female lecturer/researchers and their impact on burnout. Based on Occupational Stress Theory, this research specifically analyzes the mediating role of three coping strategies, i.e., problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidant coping. A quantitative survey was conducted among 800 Tunisian women teacher-researchers, with 613 complete responses that are valid for analysis. The results revealed that under the influence of sexual harassment, women in Tunisian higher education institutions suffer increased burnout. Structural equation analysis shows that emotion-focused coping has a partial mediation effect, while avoidant coping fully mediates the link between harassment and burnout. This research adds to the literature on sexual harassment and suggests implications for the prevention and support of victims in higher education institutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/27burnoutcoping strategieshigher educationsexual harassmentTunisia
spellingShingle Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
Hassane Gharbi
Riadh Brini
Tamer M. Abdelghani
The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
Societies
burnout
coping strategies
higher education
sexual harassment
Tunisia
title The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
title_full The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
title_fullStr The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
title_short The Role of Adaptive Strategies in the Link Between Sexual Harassment and Burnout in Higher Education: A Three-Path Mediation Model
title_sort role of adaptive strategies in the link between sexual harassment and burnout in higher education a three path mediation model
topic burnout
coping strategies
higher education
sexual harassment
Tunisia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/27
work_keys_str_mv AT abuelnasresobaih theroleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT hassanegharbi theroleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT riadhbrini theroleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT tamermabdelghani theroleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT abuelnasresobaih roleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT hassanegharbi roleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT riadhbrini roleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel
AT tamermabdelghani roleofadaptivestrategiesinthelinkbetweensexualharassmentandburnoutinhighereducationathreepathmediationmodel