Sociodemographic factors and mental health among Saudi faculty members: A comprehensive nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Limited attention has been given to sociodemographic factors among faculty members in the association between workplace stressors and psychological distress, especially in the Saudi context. Understanding the impact of academic demands on faculty members’ psychological distress is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the association between sociodemographic variables (gender, academic ranking, marital status) and mental health disorders dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms) among Saudi faculty. In a digital survey encompassing 321 respondents, canonical correlation analysis was utilized for data interpretation. The research discerned a mild correlation between socio-demographic indicators and mental health parameters. Faculty members above the age of 55 manifested diminished emotional exhaustion rates. In contrast, female faculty members demonstrated elevated emotional exhaustion intensities. Moreover, married faculty members experienced reduced emotional exhaustion compared to their single or divorced counterparts. Notably, gender emerged as the most influential determinant of mental health, followed by age, and subsequently marital status. Of all mental health metrics, insomnia symptoms were most sensitive to shifts in socio-demographic attributes. Tailored interventions are crucial for supporting the mental well-being of faculty in Saudi Arabia and similar contexts, benefiting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Keywords:

• Sociodemographic variables
• emotional exhaustion
• depressive symptoms
• insomnia symptoms
• higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).