IT FIGURES
by James A. Baumann
Report after report has noted the stress that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on higher education. To further explore the impact it has had on the well-being of campus housing and residence life professionals, ACUHO-I engaged as a pilot participant organization in the American College Health Foundation’s (ACHF) Emotional Well-being Survey, which was designed to examine the emotions of students, staff and administrators, and faculty in terms of several emotional well-being components (i.e., your sense of meaning in life, your sense of purpose in life, your social support networks, your approach to stress management, how you have been feeling lately, stressors you may be facing, and how inclusive you think your college or university is).
Shaun Crisler, the assistant vice president of residence life and housing at the State University of New York at Oswego, along with Kyle Amore, the senior coordinator of residential academic initiatives at California State University, Monterey Bay dug into the numbers and considered what the findings may mean for housing leaders. With 1,022 participants answering at least some of the questions asked, the results show that the stress is real, and individuals are searching for ways to combat it.
One portion of the survey focused on coping strategies and stress management. Among the participants, there was a general sense that their lives are stressful and that time pressures are prevalent. Even within this atmosphere, though, participants overall reported that they took a problem-focused approach, looked for social support, and had confidence in their ability to solve problems. In addition, they reported that they were able to relax when they wanted to, did not place blame on themselves when they were in stressful situations, and were generally optimistic about their future. Perhaps that optimism came from the participants’ desire to be a positive influence on others and to contribute to their happiness and well-being.
Unfortunately, respondents noted that they did not feel that their institutions had been supportive of the staff’s mental health or had prioritized staff mental health, and most did not describe their institution as psychologically healthy. Crisler and Amore noted this as one of the primary takeaways from the survey and noted that “leaders, colleagues, and peers alike have a role to play in maintaining their own mental health and creating an environment where others can be openly supported.” View the infographic for additional findings from the survey and learn why managers and supervisors should incorporate emotional well-being into their agendas.
James A. Baumann is the ACUHO-I Director of Publications.