British scientists are more nervous than their Ugandan counterparts

A recent study of stress levels among higher education workers found that the happiest scientists work in Germany, while those in China have the highest stress levels.

The authors of the study note that German scientists feel better than others primarily because universities put less pressure on them than in other countries: for example, the requirements for publication activity are not so strict,as in the Anglo-Saxon countries.Their colleagues in Denmark, Finland and Malaysia are also relatively well off.

The fact that Chinese scientists feel insecure is not a surprise: here the control over their activities is really serious. Due to the need to advance in international rankings, the Chinese government and university administrations set strict eligibility criteria for the position. In addition, according to scientists, it is especially difficult for Chinese women: in addition to pressure at work, society expects them to fully return to raising children, Professor Pearson told Times Higher Education.

The recognized leaders of world education - Great Britain and Australia - are in the middle of the ranking: higher than Russia, but lagging behind, for example, the United States, Uganda, Iran and Portugal. The authors of the study note that the drop in the level of happiness in 2006-2010 was very significant - this is due to the growing pressure on scientists: in order to stay at the university, it is necessary to regularly publish in journals and win grants. The requirements are especially stringent in new universities that have appeared in recent decades.

The authors of the study also note that high levels of stress can negatively affect the quality of scientists' work: representatives of creative professions, which include researchers, do not work well under pressure.

It is also unclear to what extent the level of stress among teachers affects the well-being of students. Note, however, that this issue has recently begun to seriously concern the leadership of universities: for example, in the Harvard Library this year they canceled fines for delaying books (earlier, students paid for 50 cents for each day of delay), and this was explained by the fact that too much pressure was exerted on the psyche of the students.