A team of researchers has uncovered significant patterns in how familial relationships and academic lineage influence anxiety levels among college and university faculty. The study, led by researchers from Howard University, George Mason University, and New York Medical College, reveals that close family relationships serve as a crucial buffer against anxiety, particularly for faculty at HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
The research team, including Dr. Anietie Andy from Howard University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, analyzed data from 2,106 professors across 62 U.S. higher education institutions using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) assessment. Their findings address what they describe as "a critical yet understudied public health concern."
"Academic faculty lead complex professional lives and are uniquely susceptible to anxiety-inducing factors," the researchers write in their report. These pressures include integrating multiple demanding responsibilities across scholarly research, teaching, and administrative duties, leading to "chronic role overload and significant time management challenges."
One of the study's most striking findings involves the relationship between academic rank and anxiety levels. Tenure-track assistant professors reported the highest anxiety scores with a predicted GAD-7 score of 7.9, significantly higher than their more senior colleagues. Academic rank explained approximately 3.3% of the variance in faculty anxiety scores.
The study confirms that "the traditional tenure system, while designed to ensure academic excellence, creates a significant psychological burden for early-career faculty." The relatively lower anxiety levels among non-tenure track full professors compared to their tenure-track counterparts raises questions about the relationship between job security and mental well-being in academia.
Surprisingly, the study found that academic discipline had minimal impact on anxiety levels, explaining only 0.32% of the variance. This challenges assumptions that certain fields inherently create more stress than others. Instead, the researchers discovered that institutional factors and support systems play more substantial roles in faculty mental health.
The protective effect of close family relationships was particularly pronounced at HBCUs and HSIs (b = -4.24, p = .015), where faculty without close family support showed dramatically higher anxiety levels compared to those with strong familial connections. The researchers suggest this may reflect these institutions' historically strong emphasis on community and mentorship.
