O trabalho invisível: prazer e sofrimento na produção científica stricto sensu

Abstract

The increase in youth suicide in recent years has brought the need to discuss the mental health of students. We analyzed the experiences of pleasure-suffering that post graduate students have experienced in Brazil. For this, we applied an online instrument to students of Communication, with a return of 176 valid answers. The data were analyzed statistically and via content analysis. As a theoretical lens,the Psychodynamics of Work was adopted. The main sources of suffering are(a) difficulty in reconciling the studies of master’s/doctorate degree with a paid job, (b) pressure for scientific production, (c) financial difficulties, (d) self-demand, and (e) negative feelings about performance. Strategies to avoid illnesses are (a) to relax, (b) have fun, (c) stay with friends, (d) doing activities not related to work, (e) seeking health care, and (f) to practice physical exercise. Pleasure-suffering is a unique indissociable construct. The experience of pleasure-suffering in the academic world is presented in the graduate programs in Communication in Brazil as intrinsic when being a student/worker.