Burnout Among Research Teams: Evidence from Mexican 'Cuerpos Academicos'

Several studies provide evidence on how burnout hinders academic performance in teaching, research and technologic development activities among Mexican professors. The aim of this work was to determine the extent of Burnout in teams of researchers, organized in newly created structures called Cuerpos Academicos (CAs), in public Universities in Mexico. We use a mixed approach to better understanding this phenomenon. In the first phase, a paper and pencil questionnaire was administered to 234 academics. Twenty one percent of teachers indicated signs of stress and burnout. Only women and single persons showed differences having higher scores in the instrument results. In the second phase, a qualitative analysis of professor perceptions was conducted by organizing nine focus groups, one for each academic division. Overall factors related to stress and eventual burnout could be associated to fatigue due to work overload, lack of time to fulfill assigned tasks, perceived pressure in the work environment and others. The homologation of multiple systems for teacher evaluation and a reduction of non-essential administrative demands and procedures may be efficient policies that may reduce stress and prevent burnout in these academics.