Caring for Ourselves: a Survey of School Psychology Faculty Well-Being and Implications for Recruitment and Retention

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked some interest in understanding the mental health of university faculty, a factor which could influence recruitment and retention efforts. The present study surveyed 114 faculty members in school psychology training programs to explore some personal and professional factors related to the presence of psychopathology and positive mental health. Notably, senior faculty members at the highest salary levels were less likely to report psychopathology. Additionally, faculty who spent more of their professional time in research activities and less time in teaching activities were more likely to experience positive mental health. Furthermore, faculty who reported that they engaged in more frequent self-care and worked at institutions where they perceived to be supportive of their health were also more likely to experience positive mental health. These findings suggest the importance of both personal and systemic interventions to improve the well-being of school psychology faculty. Advocating for interventions to enhance faculty well-being could be an important yet previously overlooked tool in efforts to bolster recruitment and retention of school psychology faculty.