Date of Award

Spring 6-10-2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Education

Department

College of Education, Doctoral Program

First Advisor

Leodis Scott

Second Advisor

Amira Proweller

Third Advisor

Kate O'Brien and Jennifer Gellock

Abstract

Chronic stress and burnout associated with Division I athletics is common and specifically the profession of athletics academic advising at the Division I level has reputed to be, as Meyer (2005) states, “one of the most challenging jobs in higher education.” Yet, the topic is under-explored. While roughly one thousand articles are being published each year on job burnout in general, there are very few that examine job burnout and workplace stress among Division I athletics academic advisors. Drawing on aspects of an interpretive phenomenological approach, this qualitative research study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Division I athletics academic advisors regarding job burnout and its contributing factors. The study also sought to introduce the two primary athletics academic advising models in Division I and examine how job burnout and its causes manifest within these models. Interviews with eight participants uncovered four themes: Impact of job turnover, family conflict, constantly “on,” and comparisons to other institutions. Themes articulate how participants experience constant stress and highlight the areas of work that shape their job burnout experience. Analysis of data, points to the corporatization of higher education as influencing job burnout and its antecedents. Findings from this study assist professionals in the field develop a better grasp of what is influencing job burnout and its ramifications.

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