The Analysis of Stress and Negative Effects Connected with Scientific Work among Polish Researchers

Abstract

In researchers’ work nowadays there is a big and increasing amount of stress. In this paper, we have conducted an analysis of this problem because we think it is necessary to cope with it to increase the academic workers’ quality of working life. The aim of this paper is to assess the level of stress load of Polish researchers concerning subsequent academic degrees and titles. Based on research, we can say that the level of stress load of Polish researchers concerning subsequent academic degrees and titles is differentiated—the least stressful is professorship, then doctoral thesis, and the most stressful is the habilitation. When analyzing the most frequently observed afflictions that the respondents associate with scientific procedures, it can be stated that these are irritation, nervousness, and aggression, as well as mild stress in the form of headache or stress, which was observed for at least half of the researchers. Almost every three respondents suffered from some kind of psychological problems (depression, depressed mood for a longer period, addictions, the necessity to undergo therapy), and 28.9% suffered from psychosomatic disorders (for example, pain of unknown source of limbs and of internal organs).