A social work perspective of women academics 'well-being in the workplace: The role of personal resources

Abstract

Women in higher education face unique challenges. The find-ings of this qualitative study, which explored and describedhow personal resources contribute to women academics’ per-ceptions of workplace well-being within higher education, arecrucial in understanding and addressing these challenges. Weconducted purposive sampling and gathered data through 12semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed thatwomen academics in higher education use personal resourceslike self-care, communication skills, and various strengths toprotect and promote their well-being. Organizationally, it isimperative to adopt a holistic approach that not only lever-ages individual strengths but also cultivates a positive workenvironment. The theoretical implications of this study con-tribute to a better understanding of personal resources drivingworkplace well-being within higher education institutions.