Data from the Researcher Mental Health Observatory STAIRCASE Survey

Jana Lasser; Stefan T. Mol; Alja Čontala; Ana Slavec; Andreja Zulim de Swarte; Anna Khachatryan; Anna Maria Eleuteri; Anupoma Haque; Baiba Jansone; Blerina Vrenozi; Brian Cahill; Carlos Trenado; Christiane Schwieren; Claudia Iuliana Iacob; Claudia Tejada-Gallardo; Cornelia Mairean; Darragh McCashin; Deborah Chery; Dilara Özel; Dimity Stephen; Dragan Mijakoski; Elena Ronda; Eleonora Ricci; Eliana Ibrahimi; Emese Vita; Fatjona Kamberi; Fernando G. Benavides; Francisco Valente Gonçalves; Gábor Kismihók; Gemma Pascual Manich; Igor Esnaola; Igor Portoghese; Inge van der Weijden; Irina Guseva Canu; Irsida Mehmeti; Ivana B. Petrovic; Jakub Šindelář; João Miguel Alves Ferreira; Jonila Gabrani; Karolina Eszter Kovács; Katri Pöllänen; Konstantinos Geles; Lamis Yahia Mohamed Elkheir; Lorena Cudris-Torres; Lise T. Løvseth; Louiza Ioannidou; Luksa Popovic; Mais M. Aljunaidy; Maria Fatjó Saboya; Marit Christensen; Marlene Santos; Marta Miklikowska; Mateja Erce Paoli; Mathias Schroijen; Mathieu Fusi; Mayya Sundukova; Mete Kurtoğlu; Milica Vukelić; Mirela Adriana Anghelache; Mohamad Nadim Adi; Mümine Barkçin; Nuno Barbosa Rocha; Nurka Pranjic; Olga Bogolyubova; Paulo Alexandre Soares Moreira; Paulo Moreira; Pil Maria Saugmann; Rivka Tuval-Mashiach; Rui Amaral Mendes; Sabina Osmanovic; Sinem Ozdede; Simone Lackner; Stéphanie Gauttier; Szidónia Rusu; Theodota Lagouri; Ümran Yüce-Selvi; Urszula Ziemiańczyk; Xhilda Dhamo

doi:10.5334/jopd.136

Data from the Researcher Mental Health Observatory STAIRCASE Survey

Volume 14 (2026): Issue 1

By: Jana Lasser , Stefan T. Mol , Alja Čontala , Ana Slavec , Andreja Zulim de Swarte, Anna Khachatryan, Anna Maria Eleuteri , Anupoma Haque , Baiba Jansone , Blerina Vrenozi , Brian Cahill , Carlos Trenado , Christiane Schwieren , Claudia Iuliana Iacob , Claudia Tejada-Gallardo , Cornelia Mairean , Darragh McCashin , Deborah Chery , Dilara Özel , Dimity Stephen , Dragan Mijakoski , Elena Ronda , Eleonora Ricci , Eliana Ibrahimi , Emese Vita, Fatjona Kamberi , Fernando G. Benavides , Francisco Valente Gonçalves , Gábor Kismihók , Gemma Pascual Manich, Igor Esnaola , Igor Portoghese , Inge van der Weijden , Irina Guseva Canu , Irsida Mehmeti , Ivana B. Petrovic , Jakub Šindelář , João Miguel Alves Ferreira , Jonila Gabrani , Karolina Eszter Kovács , Katri Pöllänen , Konstantinos Geles , Lamis Yahia Mohamed Elkheir , Lorena Cudris-Torres , Lise T. Løvseth , Louiza Ioannidou , Luksa Popovic , Mais M. Aljunaidy , Maria Fatjó Saboya, Marit Christensen , Marlene Santos , Marta Miklikowska , Mateja Erce Paoli , Mathias Schroijen , Mathieu Fusi, Mayya Sundukova , Mete Kurtoğlu , Milica Vukelić , Mirela Adriana Anghelache , Mohamad Nadim Adi , Mümine Barkçin , Nuno Barbosa Rocha , Nurka Pranjic , Olga Bogolyubova , Paulo Alexandre Soares Moreira , Paulo Moreira , Pil Maria Saugmann , Rivka Tuval-Mashiach , Rui Amaral Mendes , Sabina Osmanovic , Sinem Ozdede , Simone Lackner , Stéphanie Gauttier , Szidónia Rusu, Theodota Lagouri , Ümran Yüce-Selvi , Urszula Ziemiańczyk and Xhilda Dhamo

Open Access

|May 2026

Abstract

The data presented here derives from the Sustainable Working Conditions in Academia survey (STAIRCASE) on researcher mental health. The survey addresses the ongoing mental health crisis in academia by providing comprehensive, multilevel data on researcher well-being and its structural determinants. We employed a cross-sectional between-participant study design to collect data from 4,296 researchers between September 15, 2023, and August 26, 2024. The sample, which primarily includes researchers based in European countries, has a mean age of 38.1 years (SD = 10.7) and consists of 63.7% female participants. Participants provided data on key mental health outcomes – including depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and well-being – alongside detailed assessments of working conditions, leadership behavior, and organizational characteristics. The dataset facilitates a holistic, multilevel investigation of academic mental health beyond individual risk factors by including the individual, leadership, institutional, and national context. By enabling analyses across hierarchical levels this dataset provides the necessary evidence to identify systemic drivers of mental (ill) health and inform the development of effective, system-wide strategies for meaningful change in academic work environments.

References

Almeida, J. G., Hartog, D. N. D., De Hoogh, A. H., Franco, V. R., & Porto, J. B. (2022). Harmful leader behaviors: Toward an increased understanding of how different forms of unethical leader behavior can harm subordinates. Journal of Business Ethics, 180(1). 10.1007/s10551-021-04864-7
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bal, P. M., Dóci, E., Lub, X., Van Rossenberg, Y. G. T., Nijs, S., Achnak, S., Briner, R. B., Brookes, A., Chudzikowski, K., De Cooman, R., De Gieter, S., De Jong, J., De Jong, S. B., Dorenbosch, L., Ghoreishi Galugahi, M. A., Hack-Polay, D., Hofmans, J., Hornung, S., Khuda, K., … Van Zelst, M. (2019). Manifesto for the future of work and organizational psychology. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 28(3), 289–299. 10.1080/1359432x.2019.1602041
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bottesi, G., Ghisi, M., Altoè, G., Conforti, E., Melli, G., & Sica, C. (2015). The Italian version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21: Factor structure and psychometric properties on community and clinical samples. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 60, 170–181. 10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.04.005
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Burr, H., Berthelsen, H., Moncada, S., Nübling, M., Dupret, E., Demiral, Y., … & Pohrt, A. (2019). The third version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire. Safety and Health at Work, 10(4), 482–503. 10.1016/j.shaw.2019.10.002
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chia, A., Mossman, L., & Johnston, A. L. (2024). Academic precarity and mental health: reviewing the domains of precarity “of”,“at”, and “from” work. Research Handbook of Academic Mental Health, 168–180. 10.4337/9781803925080.00017
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chmitorz, A., Wenzel, M., Stieglitz, R. D., Kunzler, A., Bagusat, C., Helmreich, I., Gerlicher, A., Kampa, M., Kubiak, T., Kalisch, R., Lieb, K., & Tüscher, O. (2018). Population-based validation of a German version of the Brief Resilience Scale. PloS one, 13(2), e0192761. 10.1371/journal.pone.0192761
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Colombo, L., & Ghislieri, C. (2008). The work-to-family conflict: Theories and measures. Work, 15(1), 35–55. https://www.academia.edu/72836209/The_work_to_family_conflict_Theories_and_measures
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Colquitt, J. A., & Rodell, J. B. (2011). Justice, trust, and trustworthiness: A longitudinal analysis integrating three theoretical perspectives. Academy of Management Journal, 54(6), 1183–1206. 10.5465/amj.2007.0572
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Daza, P., Novy, D. M., Stanley, M. A., & Averill, P. (2002). The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21: Spanish translation and validation with a Hispanic sample. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 24(3), 195–205. 10.1023/A:1016014818163
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Edwards, J. A., Webster, S., Van Laar, D., & Easton, S. (2008). Psychometric analysis of the UK Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards work-related stress Indicator Tool. Work & Stress, 22(2), 96–107. 10.1080/02678370802166599
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Edwards, M. A., & Roy, S. (2017). Academic research in the 21st century: Maintaining scientific integrity in a climate of perverse incentives and hypercompetition. Environmental Engineering Science, 34(1), 51–61. 10.1089/ees.2016.0223
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ehrlich, C. (2008). Fragebogen zur erfassung motivationsfördernder arbeitsbedingungen. Wirtschaftspsychologie, 4, 77–87. https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/d4a6f7bd-c99b-71e4-d106-a4fc3908472e/1/aufdeutsch.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. L. (2018). Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nat Biotechnol, 36(3), 282–284. 10.1038/nbt.4089
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Færgestad, M. (2017). An effect evaluation of an intervention to improve the psychosocial work environment of a specific university unit. Master’s thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2450362
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1975). Development of the job diagnostic survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60(2), 159. 10.1037/h0076546
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hazell, C. M., Chapman, L., Valeix, S. F., Roberts, P., Niven, J. E., & Berry, C. (2020). Understanding the mental health of doctoral researchers: a mixed methods systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. Systematic reviews, 9, 1–30. 10.1186/s13643-020-01443-1
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Huppert, F. A. (2009). Psychological well-being: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 1(2), 137–164. 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01008.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jacobs, I., & Horsch, A. (2019). Psychometric properties of the French Brief Resilience Scale. European Journal of Health Psychology, 26(1), 1–9. 10.1027/2512-8442/a000022
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jakobshagen, N. (2006). Illegitimate tasks, illegitimate stressors: testing a new stressor-strain concept, dissertation, University Bern. https://biblio.unibe.ch/download/eldiss/06jacobshagen_n.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Keyes, C. L. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 539. 10.1037/0022-006X.73.3.539
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lasser, J. (2023). STAIRCASE data protection plan. OSF. 10.17605/osf.io/9tr74
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lau, R. W. K., & Pretorius, L. (2019). Intrapersonal wellbeing and the academic mental health crisis. Wellbeing in doctoral education: Insights and guidance from the student experience, 37–45. 10.1007/978-981-13-9302-0_5
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Levecque, K., Anseel, F., De Beuckelaer, A., Van der Heyden, J., & Gisle, L. (2017). Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students. Research Policy, 46(4), 868–879. 10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 335–343. 10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-U
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Martin, D. (2012). French translation of the DASS. Ottawa University. https://www2.psy.unsw.edu.au/groups/dass/French/DASS21French.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mol, S., Lasser, J., Chiu, M. M., Christensen, M., Lövseth, L., Matijas, M., Pajic, S., Tejada-Gallardo, C., Schwieren, C. (2025). Researcher Mental Health Observatory (ReMO): Multi-level multi-country multi-institute study on contextual antecedents of Researcher Mental Health. Preregistration on OSF. https://osf.io/zgcq4
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Moncada i Lluís, S., Llorens Serrano, C., Salas Nicás, S., Moriña, D., & Navarro Giné, A. (2021). La tercera versión de COPSOQ-ISTAS21. Un instrumento internacional actualizado para la prevención de riesgos psicosociales en el trabajo. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 95. https://hdl.handle.net/2445/180433
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Netemeyer, R. G., Boles, J. S., & McMurrian, R. (1996). Development and validation of work–family conflict and family–work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(4), 400. 10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.400
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nicholls, H., Nicholls, M., Tekin, S., Lamb, D., & Billings, J. (2022). The impact of working in academia on researchers’ mental health and well-being: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. PloS one, 17(5), e0268890. 10.1371/journal.pone.0268890
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nielsen, K., Yarker, J., Munir, F., & Bültmann, U. (2018). IGLOO: An integrated framework for sustainable return to work in workers with common mental disorders. Work & Stress, 32(4), 400–417. 10.1080/02678373.2018.1438536
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nilges, P., & Essau, C. (2015). Die Depressions-Angst-Stress-Skalen: Der DASS – ein Screeningverfahren nicht nur für Schmerzpatienten. Der Schmerz, 29, 649–657. 10.1007/s00482-015-0019-z
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nübling, M., Stößel, U., Hasselhorn, H. M., Michaelis, M., & Hofmann, F. (2005). Methoden zur Erfassung psychischer Belastungen. Erprobung eines Messinstrumentes (COPSOQ). https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Publikationen/Schriftenreihe/Forschungsberichte/2005/Fb1058.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Peter, K. A., Golz, C., Bürgin, R. A., Nübling, M., Voirol, C., Zürcher, S. J., & Hahn, S. (2022). Assessing the psychosocial work environment in the health care setting: translation and psychometric testing of the French and Italian Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaires (COPSOQ) in a large sample of health professionals in Switzerland. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 608. 10.1186/s12913-022-07924-4
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Puls, R. (2016). NCHECR Hebrew translation. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research Sidney. https://www2.psy.unsw.edu.au/dass/Hebrew/DASS21Hebrew_NCHECR.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Recipes for Well-being. (2025). Breve scala di resilienza. https://www.recipesforwellbeing.org/it/brief-resilience-scale/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Research Organization Registry. (2023). ROR Data (v1.18) [Data set]. Zenodo. 10.5281/zenodo.7574659
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rodríguez-Rey, R., Alonso-Tapia, J., & Hernansaiz-Garrido, H. (2016). Reliability and validity of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) Spanish Version. Psychological Assessment, 28(5), e101–e110. 10.1037/pas0000191
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Roupas, Z. (2025). Radical reform is needed to combat power abuses in academia. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–1. 10.1038/s41562-025-02127-3
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sang, K., Powell, A., Finkel, R., & Richards, J. (2015). ‘Being an academic is not a 9–5 job’: long working hours and the ‘ideal worker’ in UK academia. Labour & Industry: A Journal of the Social and Economic Relations of Work, 25(3), 235–249. 10.1080/10301763.2015.1081723
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W., Desart, S., & De Witte, H. (2020). The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) – development, validity and reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9495. 10.3390/ijerph17249495
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., Shimazu, A., Hakanen, J., Salanova, M., & De Witte, H. (2017). An ultra-short measure for work engagement. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. 10.1027/1015-5759/a000430
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Semmer, N. K., Tschan, F., Meier, L. L., Facchin, S., & Jacobshagen, N. (2010). Illegitimate tasks and counterproductive work behavior. Applied Psychology, 59(1), 70–96. 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2009.00416.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008). The brief resilience scale: assessing the ability to bounce back. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 15(3), 194–200. 10.1080/10705500802222972
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sorensen, G., Sparer, E., Williams, J. A., Gundersen, D., Boden, L. I., Dennerlein, J. T., Hashimoto, D., Katz, J., McLellan, D., Okechukwu, C., Pronk, N., Revette, A., & Wagner, G. R. (2018). Measuring best practices for workplace safety, health, and well-being: the workplace integrated safety and health assessment. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60(5), 430–439. 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001286
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Staehr, J. K. (1998). “The use of well-being measures in primary health care-the DepCare project.” World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe: Well-Being Measures in Primary Health Care-the DepCare Project. Geneva: World Health Organization. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mental-health/who-5_english-original4da539d6ed4b49389e3afe47cda2326a.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Urbina-Garcia, A. (2020). What do we know about university academics’ mental health? A systematic literature review. Stress and Health, 36(5), 563–585. 10.1002/smi.2956
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Valdivieso Portilla, D. L., Gonzalez Rosero, A., Alvarado-Villa, G., & Moncayo-Rizzo, J. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Bern illegitimate tasks scale–Spanish version. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 593870. 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.593870
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Vander Elst, T., De Witte, H., & De Cuyper, N. (2014). The Job Insecurity Scale: A psychometric evaluation across five European countries. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 23(3), 364–380. 10.1080/1359432X.2012.745989
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Walde, P., & Völlm, B. A. (2023). The TRAPD approach as a method for questionnaire translation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1199989. 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199989
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Westerhof, G. J., & Keyes, C. L. (2010). Mental illness and mental health: The two continua model across the lifespan. Journal of Adult Development, 17, 110–119. 10.1007/s10804-009-9082-y
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jopd.136 | Journal eISSN: 2050-9863

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 1 - 1

Submitted on: Jun 3, 2025

Accepted on: Apr 30, 2026

Published on: May 29, 2026

Published by: Ubiquity Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

mental health,

academia, researchers,

working conditions,

occupational health

© 2026 Jana Lasser, Stefan T. Mol, Alja Čontala, Ana Slavec, Andreja Zulim de Swarte, Anna Khachatryan, Anna Maria Eleuteri, Anupoma Haque, Baiba Jansone, Blerina Vrenozi, Brian Cahill, Carlos Trenado, Christiane Schwieren, Claudia Iuliana Iacob, Claudia Tejada-Gallardo, Cornelia Mairean, Darragh McCashin, Deborah Chery, Dilara Özel, Dimity Stephen, Dragan Mijakoski, Elena Ronda, Eleonora Ricci, Eliana Ibrahimi, Emese Vita, Fatjona Kamberi, Fernando G. Benavides, Francisco Valente Gonçalves, Gábor Kismihók, Gemma Pascual Manich, Igor Esnaola, Igor Portoghese, Inge van der Weijden, Irina Guseva Canu, Irsida Mehmeti, Ivana B. Petrovic, Jakub Šindelář, João Miguel Alves Ferreira, Jonila Gabrani, Karolina Eszter Kovács, Katri Pöllänen, Konstantinos Geles, Lamis Yahia Mohamed Elkheir, Lorena Cudris-Torres, Lise T. Løvseth, Louiza Ioannidou, Luksa Popovic, Mais M. Aljunaidy, Maria Fatjó Saboya, Marit Christensen, Marlene Santos, Marta Miklikowska, Mateja Erce Paoli, Mathias Schroijen, Mathieu Fusi, Mayya Sundukova, Mete Kurtoğlu, Milica Vukelić, Mirela Adriana Anghelache, Mohamad Nadim Adi, Mümine Barkçin, Nuno Barbosa Rocha, Nurka Pranjic, Olga Bogolyubova, Paulo Alexandre Soares Moreira, Paulo Moreira, Pil Maria Saugmann, Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, Rui Amaral Mendes, Sabina Osmanovic, Sinem Ozdede, Simone Lackner, Stéphanie Gauttier, Szidónia Rusu, Theodota Lagouri, Ümran Yüce-Selvi, Urszula Ziemiańczyk, Xhilda Dhamo, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 14 (2026): Issue 1