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Do research incentives promote researchers’ mental health?

  • Liujian Gu
    ,
  • Tao Wang
    ,
  • Chuanyi Wang
    ,
  • James Crabbe
    ,
  • Xiao-Guang Yue
  • Tsinghua University
    ,
  • University of Oxford
    ,
  • European University Cyprus
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

Researchers have a higher risk of anxiety and depression than the general population, so it is important to promote researchers’ mental health. Method: Based on the data from 3210 global researchers surveyed by the journal Nature in 2021, confirmatory factor analysis, OLS regression and other regressions were used to explore the research incentive dimensions and their effects on researchers’ mental health. Results: (1) Material incentive factors, work-family life balance factors, good organizational environment and spiritual motivation had significant positive effects on researchers’ mental health. (2) The spiritual motivation could better promote researchers’ mental health than the other factors. (3) Heterogeneity analysis showed that material incentive factors and spiritual motivation created more significant stimulating effects on the mental health of humanities and social sciences researchers. Work-family life balance factors were more effective in promoting the mental health of the mid-career group and the overtime group. Conclusion: Application of the four research incentives resulted in lower likelihood of anxiety or depression among researchers, and special attention should be paid to the role of the spiritual motivation. In order to promote researchers’ mental health, different incentives should be applied to different researcher groups to better improve researchers’ mental health.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 903-914 (12 pages)

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion (Volume 25, Issue 8)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 20/03/2023
  • Published - 10/07/2023

Publication status

Published - 10/07/2023

ISSN

1462-3730

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625951
  • Scopus: 85165155618

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