Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning
Purpose Job insecurity characterizes academic work, with potential risks for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Notwithstanding, faculty with job insecurity experiences may still find academia conducive to pursuing personal fulfilment. As faculty experiences of psychological well...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474361 |
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| author | Anna S. Tanimoto Johanna Segerbäck Anne Richter Petra Lindfors |
| author_facet | Anna S. Tanimoto Johanna Segerbäck Anne Richter Petra Lindfors |
| author_sort | Anna S. Tanimoto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Job insecurity characterizes academic work, with potential risks for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Notwithstanding, faculty with job insecurity experiences may still find academia conducive to pursuing personal fulfilment. As faculty experiences of psychological well-being may be coloured by insecurity, this study sought to qualitatively investigate the ways in which experiences of insecurity and psychological well-being co-occur. Methods This study followed a questionnaire study of a representative sample of faculty in Swedish academia and their job insecurity perceptions, inviting the most insecure to participate. The participant group included 19 faculty from nine public Swedish higher education institutions. Transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the six theoretical dimensions of psychological well-being. Results Two themes were developed: 1) Staying afloat?, and 2) I’m not yet where I’m supposed to be. These themes elucidate faculty experiences of managing their current work (and personal) situations, and reveal how faculty orient themselves in relation to their futures, pasts and presents. Conclusions The findings demonstrate how experiences of insecurity co-exist with psychological well-being in constraining and enhancing faculty well-being. This reveals how psychological well-being involves a dynamic process of negotiation, especially during transitional periods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0788408266f4c39ac8af50bd4e8a1f3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0788408266f4c39ac8af50bd4e8a1f32025-08-20T02:11:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24743612474361Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioningAnna S. Tanimoto0Johanna Segerbäck1Anne Richter2Petra Lindfors3Stockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityPurpose Job insecurity characterizes academic work, with potential risks for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Notwithstanding, faculty with job insecurity experiences may still find academia conducive to pursuing personal fulfilment. As faculty experiences of psychological well-being may be coloured by insecurity, this study sought to qualitatively investigate the ways in which experiences of insecurity and psychological well-being co-occur. Methods This study followed a questionnaire study of a representative sample of faculty in Swedish academia and their job insecurity perceptions, inviting the most insecure to participate. The participant group included 19 faculty from nine public Swedish higher education institutions. Transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the six theoretical dimensions of psychological well-being. Results Two themes were developed: 1) Staying afloat?, and 2) I’m not yet where I’m supposed to be. These themes elucidate faculty experiences of managing their current work (and personal) situations, and reveal how faculty orient themselves in relation to their futures, pasts and presents. Conclusions The findings demonstrate how experiences of insecurity co-exist with psychological well-being in constraining and enhancing faculty well-being. This reveals how psychological well-being involves a dynamic process of negotiation, especially during transitional periods.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474361quantitative job insecurityqualitative job insecurityeudaimoniapsychological well-beingfacultyhigher education institutions |
| spellingShingle | Anna S. Tanimoto Johanna Segerbäck Anne Richter Petra Lindfors Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being quantitative job insecurity qualitative job insecurity eudaimonia psychological well-being faculty higher education institutions |
| title | Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| title_full | Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| title_fullStr | Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| title_short | Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| title_sort | insecurity and psychological well being among faculty in academia exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning |
| topic | quantitative job insecurity qualitative job insecurity eudaimonia psychological well-being faculty higher education institutions |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474361 |
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