Table 3 Themes and categories resulting from qualitative content analysis of the verbatim transcripts, in order to reveal factors that were perceived as leading to an excessive mental workload (research aim 2)
From: Perceptions of mental workload in Dutch university employees of different ages: a focus group study
Theme | Category | Codes |
|---|---|---|
Organisation | Organisational aspects as obstacles for ‘getting the best out of people’ | Coaching and supervision |
Challenges in the work | ||
Faculty communication | ||
Embedding of feedback | ||
Pressure linked to publications and grant applications | ||
Strict rules | ||
Autonomy* | ||
Greediness of the organisation | Department atmosphere | |
A feeling that the organisation does not care about its staff | ||
Work-family/ life balance | ||
Work and life experience | ||
Promotion prospects | ||
Aspects of work | Overtime seems unavoidable | Organisation of education |
Student interaction | ||
Organisation of the work | ||
Inadequate resources | ||
Faculty policy | ||
Unique knowledge | ||
Administrative/ organisational tasks | ||
Too much work to do | ||
Frequent interruptions at work | ||
Working at an university* | ||
Barriers to built a career | Working in separate projects | |
Finding time for research* | ||
Working relationships* | ||
Personal approach | Personality | Work engagement |
Overcommitment | ||
Personal adaptation | Long working hours | |
Personal organisation of the work | ||
Personal needs |