Fostering Inclusive Spaces for Early Career Researchers: Exploring the Anti-Stigma Potentials of Institutional Support Systems

IF 2.8 3区教育学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

European Journal of Education Pub Date : 2025-04-29 DOI:10.1111/ejed.70111

Umaira Tabassum, Amjad Islam Amjad, Sarfraz Aslam, Faiza Shafqat, Sharareh Shahidi Hamedani

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The institutional environment places high expectations on early-career researchers (ECRs), particularly when dealing with anti-stigma potential. The objective of the present study was to explore the mental health stigmas and the approach to getting work-life balance among young researchers in Pakistan's top-ranked universities. The design of the current qualitative research was phenomenology. Using purposive sampling, ten participants were selected from ten top-ranked universities in Pakistan per the QS ranking 2023. Data were collected with the help of a semi-structured interview protocol using online platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp. After transcribing the interview data, it was analysed using NVivo 12 Pro software. We found that stressors related to academic responsibilities, inflexible academic schedules, research publications, finding funded projects and cultural factors (family management, social health) were the leading stumbling blocks influencing the mental health of ECRs. Most ECRs followed self-driven stress coping strategies (physical activity, peer support). Institutional support was not witnessed to help ECRs manage these mental health challenges. We suggest universities develop a support system to help ECRs nullify the effect of personal, academic and cultural stressors and help them develop careers.

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为早期职业研究人员培育包容性空间：探索机构支持系统的反污名化潜力

制度环境对早期职业研究人员（ecr）寄予了很高的期望，特别是在处理反污名化潜力时。本研究的目的是探讨巴基斯坦顶尖大学的年轻研究人员的心理健康耻辱感和获得工作与生活平衡的方法。目前定性研究的设计是现象学。通过有目的的抽样，根据QS 2023年排名，从巴基斯坦10所排名靠前的大学中选出了10名参与者。数据是在使用Zoom和WhatsApp等在线平台的半结构化采访协议的帮助下收集的。转录访谈数据后，使用NVivo 12 Pro软件进行分析。我们发现，与学术责任、不灵活的学术时间表、研究出版物、寻找资助项目和文化因素（家庭管理、社会健康）相关的压力源是影响ecr心理健康的主要障碍。大多数ecr采用自我驱动的压力应对策略（体育活动，同伴支持）。没有看到机构支持帮助社区康复者应对这些心理健康挑战。我们建议大学建立一个支持系统，帮助ecr消除个人、学术和文化压力因素的影响，帮助他们发展职业。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The prime aims of the European Journal of Education are: - To examine, compare and assess education policies, trends, reforms and programmes of European countries in an international perspective - To disseminate policy debates and research results to a wide audience of academics, researchers, practitioners and students of education sciences - To contribute to the policy debate at the national and European level by providing European administrators and policy-makers in international organisations, national and local governments with comparative and up-to-date material centred on specific themes of common interest.