title: Occupational Stress in Academic life: A Study of Academics of Malaysian Public Universities

authors: Idris, Mohd Kamel

subjects: occupational stress

abstract: Stress can lead to poor health and loss of productivity among employees across
occupations. Stress does not only affect individuals but also organizations by
causing work absence and staff turnover. Academics in Malaysian public
universities are no exception. Due to the rapid developments in tertiary
education, academics in Malaysian public universities are believed to be
experiencing increased job demands that potentially lead to increased stress.
This study was carried out to examine: i) the direct effect of role stressors (i.e.
role overload, role ambiguity and role conflict) on strain; ii) the direct effect of strain
on the outcomes of strain (i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and organizational
commitment); iii) the moderation effects of organizational support, peer support, and
self-efficacy on the relationships between role stressors and strain; iv) the mediation
effect of strain on the relationship between role stressors and strain; and v) the
mediation effect of outcomes of strain (i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and
organizational commitment) on the relationship between strain and intention to leave
among those academics.
This study used a non-experimental two-wave panel design. Eleven of the 12
study variables were measured using pre-existing scales except for self-efficacy,
iii
which was measured by items specially developed for this study. A longitudinal
survey with a six-month time interval yielded 357 respondents (academics) at time 1
and 210 respondents at time 2. Data were analyzed using multiple regression,
hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test for direct
effects, moderation effects and mediation effects respectively.
The findings of this study indicate that academics who experienced increased
levels of role stressors were more likely to have increased levels of strain.
Subsequently, the strained academics were more likely to show higher levels of
cynicism and lower levels of professional efficacy and organizational commitment.
The predicted moderators (i.e organizational support, peer support, and self-efficacy)
had no significant influence on the relationships between role stressors and strain.
Mediation analyses consisted of two parts. In the first part, I found that strain
strongly mediated the relationship between role ambiguity and outcomes of strain
(i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and organizational commitment). In the
subsequent mediation analysis, I found that cynicism and organizational commitment
fully mediated the relationship between strain and intention to leave, but not
professional efficacy.

text: Occupational Stress in Academic life: A Study of Academics of Malaysian Public Universities Stress can lead to poor health and loss of productivity among employees across
occupations. Stress does not only affect individuals but also organizations by
causing work absence and staff turnover. Academics in Malaysian public
universities are no exception. Due to the rapid developments in tertiary
education, academics in Malaysian public universities are believed to be
experiencing increased job demands that potentially lead to increased stress.
This study was carried out to examine: i) the direct effect of role stressors (i.e.
role overload, role ambiguity and role conflict) on strain; ii) the direct effect of strain
on the outcomes of strain (i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and organizational
commitment); iii) the moderation effects of organizational support, peer support, and
self-efficacy on the relationships between role stressors and strain; iv) the mediation
effect of strain on the relationship between role stressors and strain; and v) the
mediation effect of outcomes of strain (i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and
organizational commitment) on the relationship between strain and intention to leave
among those academics.
This study used a non-experimental two-wave panel design. Eleven of the 12
study variables were measured using pre-existing scales except for self-efficacy,
iii
which was measured by items specially developed for this study. A longitudinal
survey with a six-month time interval yielded 357 respondents (academics) at time 1
and 210 respondents at time 2. Data were analyzed using multiple regression,
hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test for direct
effects, moderation effects and mediation effects respectively.
The findings of this study indicate that academics who experienced increased
levels of role stressors were more likely to have increased levels of strain.
Subsequently, the strained academics were more likely to show higher levels of
cynicism and lower levels of professional efficacy and organizational commitment.
The predicted moderators (i.e organizational support, peer support, and self-efficacy)
had no significant influence on the relationships between role stressors and strain.
Mediation analyses consisted of two parts. In the first part, I found that strain
strongly mediated the relationship between role ambiguity and outcomes of strain
(i.e. cynicism, professional efficacy, and organizational commitment). In the
subsequent mediation analysis, I found that cynicism and organizational commitment
fully mediated the relationship between strain and intention to leave, but not
professional efficacy.

year: 2009

title: Politics of the Huntly Power Project

authors: McEnteer, Terrence John

subjects: Huntly Power Project

abstract: The political activity associated with the Huntly Power Project was examined in relation to a number of case studies using a Symbolic Interactionist approach to illustrate processes of power.

A broad view of the politics of energy use in New Zealand provided the setting to understand why there was continued Government Support for the project.

An analysis of the case studies and their relationship to the Huntly Power Project Planning Forum permitted an appraisal of the influence of the Forum on Political interaction.
It was confirmed that political activity was characterised by negotiation through the processes of symbolic manipulation and control of information.

The influence of the Forum for discussion primarily benefitted Government Departments for in conflict situations it promoted compromises which supported the overall goal to complete the project. It provided an opportunity to accommodate local interest group concerns and problems.
The Forum was largely successful as a device for the amelioration and mediation of conflict among groups which voiced reservation, about the effects of the project on the local area, when it was proposed and in its initial stages of development.

text: Politics of the Huntly Power Project The political activity associated with the Huntly Power Project was examined in relation to a number of case studies using a Symbolic Interactionist approach to illustrate processes of power.

A broad view of the politics of energy use in New Zealand provided the setting to understand why there was continued Government Support for the project.

An analysis of the case studies and their relationship to the Huntly Power Project Planning Forum permitted an appraisal of the influence of the Forum on Political interaction.
It was confirmed that political activity was characterised by negotiation through the processes of symbolic manipulation and control of information.

The influence of the Forum for discussion primarily benefitted Government Departments for in conflict situations it promoted compromises which supported the overall goal to complete the project. It provided an opportunity to accommodate local interest group concerns and problems.
The Forum was largely successful as a device for the amelioration and mediation of conflict among groups which voiced reservation, about the effects of the project on the local area, when it was proposed and in its initial stages of development.

year: 1976

title: The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary: Terraqueous Territorialization and Māori Marine Environments

authors: McCormack, Fiona

abstract: This paper interprets the disrupted establishment of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, a 620,000 square kilometre marine protection area, as a crucial moment in Pacific frontier making. The development of large-scale protected marine areas is a politically charged frontier tool, in which states garner international recognition and environmental renown by setting aside large swathes of their exclusive economic zones. In the Kermadec Sanctuary, this enclosure hit against an assemblage of Indigenous histories, ecologies, repatriated fishing rights, and privatized fishing quota challenging the oftmarginalized agency of Indigenous people in frontier narratives. This paper argues that three factors are fundamental to untangling this conflict: first, the historical trajectory of terraqueous territorialization in the Kermadec region, second, the post-Treaty of Waitangi settlement dynamics of Maori marine environments, and third, the common ecosystem services model underlying conservation and extraction.

text: The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary: Terraqueous Territorialization and Māori Marine Environments This paper interprets the disrupted establishment of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, a 620,000 square kilometre marine protection area, as a crucial moment in Pacific frontier making. The development of large-scale protected marine areas is a politically charged frontier tool, in which states garner international recognition and environmental renown by setting aside large swathes of their exclusive economic zones. In the Kermadec Sanctuary, this enclosure hit against an assemblage of Indigenous histories, ecologies, repatriated fishing rights, and privatized fishing quota challenging the oftmarginalized agency of Indigenous people in frontier narratives. This paper argues that three factors are fundamental to untangling this conflict: first, the historical trajectory of terraqueous territorialization in the Kermadec region, second, the post-Treaty of Waitangi settlement dynamics of Maori marine environments, and third, the common ecosystem services model underlying conservation and extraction.

year: 2021