The psychodynamics of work and the experiences of pleasure-suffering in university teaching: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

This study analyzed the scientific literature on the Psychodynamics of Work in university teaching, aiming to understand how working conditions affect the mental health of university teachers. The research was carried out through a systematic review of the literature. For the selection of studies, searches were carried out in the electronic databases Scielo, Google Scholar and the Virtual Health Library (BVS). The research only included empirical studies published in the last 5 years, in Portuguese, which strictly studied the Psychodynamics of Work in university teaching. Conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, the search found 191 studies, however, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 10 studies were eligible for analysis. Regarding the analyzed studies, the exclusively qualitative approach was predominant (n=7), using methods such as interviews and focus groups to collect data. The analyzed data showed that pleasure at work is associated with professional recognition, autonomy, solidarity among colleagues and personal and student development. On the other hand, suffering is related to stress, emotional exhaustion and dissatisfaction, leading to mental health problems, such as anxiety and professional exhaustion. However, professors have sought to adopt coping and defense strategies, such as seeking support among colleagues, developing communication and cooperation skills, and prioritizing aspects of work that provide pleasure and satisfaction. Given the above, it is important to promote policies and practices that promote a healthy work environment that favors the mental health of university professors.