A survey research study of music education faculty: Demographics as related to indicators of job satisfaction and stress

Abstract

This study examined demographic information for current music education faculty ( N = 136), the factors that seem to influence music education faculty members’ levels of job satisfaction and primary stressors, also by institution type. Simultaneous multiple regression revealed that academic autonomy, collegial support, sleep, parental responsibilities, and certainties of the tenure process affect music education faculty members’ reported levels of job satisfaction and stress. Mean job satisfaction and stress scores for each group by Carnegie institution types were compared using a one-way ANOVA. Significant differences in stress scores between groups suggested that the larger institution group (R1) did not report feeling more stressed about professional responsibilities than the smaller institution group (M1). Analyses of open-ended questions also reinforced the notion that the COVID-19 pandemic increased flexibilities in work and parental responsibilities leading to lower stress levels.