Employment determinants of the poor mental well-being of student workers in England

Abstract

Purpose – Research on the increasing phenomenon of student paid work has tended to focus on the impact on studies or employability and reveal less about working conditions and their consequences. Given the rise in reported work-related poor mental well-being across England, there is a need to understand how employment affects student well-being. As such, this study investigates which aspects of work impact the mental well-being of student workers and to what extent. Design/methodology/approach – Logistic regression analysis was used to examine 271 survey responses from Business School students at a post-1992 English university. The model coefficients were then exponentiated so that they could be interpreted as changes in the odds of experiencing work-related stress, anxiety, or depression. Findings – The findings reveal several work-related variables to have a statistically significant impact on mental well-being. More specifically, the logistic regression models pinpoint control, guidance, work hours and job security, along with the demographic variables of ethnicity and age, as making significant contributions to the odds of experiencing work-related poor mental well-being. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by improving understanding of student working conditions and work-related well-being. In bringing together these topics, the findings underscore the importance of examining how the organisation and conditions of student work impact mental well-being. Recommendations are made for how employers and universities can address factors affecting student workers' mental well-being.