Other Titles
PechaKucha Presentation
Abstract
There is a growing crisis of burnout and mental health concerns in post-secondary educators, with nearly 70% of faculty experiencing significant stress due to increased workloads, job insecurity, and the demands of teaching. This has led to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, contributing to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions within academia. These challenges are particularly acute in the nursing workforce, which is already grappling with significant shortages of practicing nurses and faculty. Out of this critical concern the Mindfulness and Movement project was cultivated by nursing faculty, both of whom are practicing mental health professionals and advocates for community health. Understanding the need to offset burnout for all faculty an interdisciplinary team developed a program to champion wellness and holism, integrating mindfulness practices and physical movement into faculty routines with the aim to reduce perceived stress and foster a healthier work environment. Faculty are invited to participate in an exploratory study design that examines perceived stress levels and qualitative well-being data. Participants are divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups—one engaging asynchronously and the other participating in synchronous wellness activities. The impact of these interventions on well-being and perceived stress levels will be assessed using validated measurement tools. The project addresses a critical need for a wellness shift within the campus community by focusing on essential sustainability and wellness research. The focus on perceived stress as a key measure, guides the research aims to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between mindfulness practices and workplace health.
The interdisciplinary design of the project is central to its impact. Nursing is inherently collaborative and community-focused, and this project embodies that ethos. By fostering collaboration among faculty from diverse backgrounds, the project enhances the well-being of participants and reinforces a culture of care and resilience essential for sustained academic and community health demonstrating the value of interdisciplinary efforts in fostering a transformational culture shift within academia and beyond.
Notes
References: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2022). Nursing faculty shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Faculty-Shortage
Fang, D., & Kesten, K. S. (2021). Retirements and succession of nursing faculty in 2016-2025. Nursing Outlook, 69(6), 961-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.05.001
Smiley, R. A., Lauer, P., Bienemy, C., Berg, J. G., Shireman, E., Reneau, K. A., & Alexander, M. (2021). The 2020 national nursing workforce survey. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 12(1), S1-S96. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(21)00027-2
Fischbein, R., & Bonfine, N. (2019). Pharmacy and medical students' mental health symptoms, experiences, attitudes, and help-seeking behaviors. Academic Psychiatry, 43(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-018-0937-7
Levine, P. (2022). Faculty burnout and stress in higher education: Causes, consequences, and responses. Educational Leadership, 79(4), 42-47.
Miller, A. N., & Murry, V. M. (2021). Enhancing faculty well-being and resilience: Strategies for fostering a healthy academic workforce. Journal of Higher Education Management, 36(2), 19-32.
Woolston, C. (2020). Pandemic burnout is rampant in academia. Nature, 587(7835), 345-346. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03235-z
Sigma Membership
Theta Zeta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Interprofessional Initiatives, Sustainable Development Goals, Coaching
Recommended Citation
Pontz, Meghan Marie and Maloney, Allison, "Mindful Movements: Cultivating Resilience & Well-Being in Academia" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 70.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/70
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Mindful Movements: Cultivating Resilience & Well-Being in Academia
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
There is a growing crisis of burnout and mental health concerns in post-secondary educators, with nearly 70% of faculty experiencing significant stress due to increased workloads, job insecurity, and the demands of teaching. This has led to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, contributing to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions within academia. These challenges are particularly acute in the nursing workforce, which is already grappling with significant shortages of practicing nurses and faculty. Out of this critical concern the Mindfulness and Movement project was cultivated by nursing faculty, both of whom are practicing mental health professionals and advocates for community health. Understanding the need to offset burnout for all faculty an interdisciplinary team developed a program to champion wellness and holism, integrating mindfulness practices and physical movement into faculty routines with the aim to reduce perceived stress and foster a healthier work environment. Faculty are invited to participate in an exploratory study design that examines perceived stress levels and qualitative well-being data. Participants are divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups—one engaging asynchronously and the other participating in synchronous wellness activities. The impact of these interventions on well-being and perceived stress levels will be assessed using validated measurement tools. The project addresses a critical need for a wellness shift within the campus community by focusing on essential sustainability and wellness research. The focus on perceived stress as a key measure, guides the research aims to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between mindfulness practices and workplace health.
The interdisciplinary design of the project is central to its impact. Nursing is inherently collaborative and community-focused, and this project embodies that ethos. By fostering collaboration among faculty from diverse backgrounds, the project enhances the well-being of participants and reinforces a culture of care and resilience essential for sustained academic and community health demonstrating the value of interdisciplinary efforts in fostering a transformational culture shift within academia and beyond.
Description
A healthier faculty is essential for the cultivation of sustainability in academia. Out of critical need to address burnout and mental health in academia, the Mindfulness and Movement project is designed to enhance the well-being of faculty. This interdisciplinary initiative aims to reduce perceived stress and cultivate a healthier work environment, highlighting the importance holistic wellness as a tool to benefit not just the academic community but the local and global communities as well.