Relationship between Psychological Stress and Mental Health among Young Lecturers

Mental health is an essential element in ensuring the well-being of everyone. A career as a young lecturer in a university is no exception when it comes to dealing with work stress, especially in a research university. Work stress has both direct and indirect effects on their mental health. This study aims to measure the extent of psychological stress levels among young lecturers and its relationship with their mental health. A total of 100 young lecturers participated in this study, using a quantitative questionnaire survey method. The study found that two-thirds of the respondents experienced high levels of psychological pressure. Nearly half of the respondents reported having a low level of mental health. Regarding mental health subscales, 51 percent of the respondents exhibited a high level of anxiety, 23 percent showed a high level of depression, 44 percent displayed low levels of behavioral control, and 58 percent had a low sense of positive wellbeing. There is a significant correlation between the degree of psychological distress and mental health, but only the sub-scales of anxiety, behavior control, and positive affect showed a significant relationship with psychological distress at p < 0.05. In conclusion, the findings of this study are expected to assist university management in implementing intervention programs in research universities. These programs can reduce psychological distress and improve the mental health of young lecturers.