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Researcher Social and Emotional Wellbeing: A Qualitative Exploration of Workplace Supports and Self-Care Strategies While Engaging in Sensitive-Topic Research

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Title: Researcher Social and Emotional Wellbeing: A Qualitative Exploration of Workplace Supports and Self-Care Strategies While Engaging in Sensitive-Topic Research
Language: English
Authors: Renee Fiolet (ORCID 0000-0001-5503-9875), Patricia Cullen (ORCID 0000-0003-4652-0936), Cynthia Brown (ORCID 0000-0002-6176-9521), Vanessa J. Watkins (ORCID 0000-0003-0600-8364), Alison M. Hutchinson (ORCID 0000-0001-5065-2726)
Source: Journal of Academic Ethics. 2026 24(1).
Availability: BioMed Central, Ltd. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.springer.com/gp/biomedical-sciences
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Researchers, Social Science Research, Medical Research, Well Being, Stress Variables, Work Environment, Self Management, Universities, Barriers, Coping
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1007/s10805-025-09700-5
ISSN: 1570-1727
1572-8544
Abstract: Research into health and social behaviours is essential for understanding the human experience and addressing society's more complex problems, but can impact researcher wellbeing. This study explored researchers' experiences of workplace support and their self-care strategies when undertaking sensitive topic research. In-depth interviews with 42 Australian researchers across 13 universities and research organisations were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two overarching themes identified in the data will be discussed in this article: "Researchers are being failed" and "An isolated fight for survival." The first theme indicated that most researchers undertaking sensitive-topic research face a challenging workplace culture, extensive barriers to accessing support, and leadership and organisational inattention to shared responsibility for researcher wellbeing. Researchers also tended to experience what we have termed an isolated fight for survival, where attempts to replace system failures involve some researchers' use of disconnection and coping mechanisms alongside self-initiated physical and self-care activities. We contend that universities and research organisations, ethics committees, faculties, schools and managers/supervisors could play a more prominent and effective role in supporting researcher wellbeing.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495193
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Researcher Social and Emotional Wellbeing: A Qualitative Exploration of Workplace Supports and Self-Care Strategies While Engaging in Sensitive-Topic Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Renee+Fiolet%22">Renee Fiolet</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5503-9875">0000-0001-5503-9875</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patricia+Cullen%22">Patricia Cullen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4652-0936">0000-0003-4652-0936</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cynthia+Brown%22">Cynthia Brown</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6176-9521">0000-0002-6176-9521</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vanessa+J%2E+Watkins%22">Vanessa J. Watkins</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0600-8364">0000-0003-0600-8364</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alison+M%2E+Hutchinson%22">Alison M. Hutchinson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5065-2726">0000-0001-5065-2726</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Academic+Ethics%22"><i>Journal of Academic Ethics</i></searchLink>. 2026 24(1).
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  Data: BioMed Central, Ltd. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.springer.com/gp/biomedical-sciences
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  Data: 19
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Researchers%22">Researchers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Science+Research%22">Social Science Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+Research%22">Medical Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+Variables%22">Stress Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+Environment%22">Work Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Management%22">Self Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coping%22">Coping</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1007/s10805-025-09700-5
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  Data: 1570-1727<br />1572-8544
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Research into health and social behaviours is essential for understanding the human experience and addressing society's more complex problems, but can impact researcher wellbeing. This study explored researchers' experiences of workplace support and their self-care strategies when undertaking sensitive topic research. In-depth interviews with 42 Australian researchers across 13 universities and research organisations were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two overarching themes identified in the data will be discussed in this article: "Researchers are being failed" and "An isolated fight for survival." The first theme indicated that most researchers undertaking sensitive-topic research face a challenging workplace culture, extensive barriers to accessing support, and leadership and organisational inattention to shared responsibility for researcher wellbeing. Researchers also tended to experience what we have termed an isolated fight for survival, where attempts to replace system failures involve some researchers' use of disconnection and coping mechanisms alongside self-initiated physical and self-care activities. We contend that universities and research organisations, ethics committees, faculties, schools and managers/supervisors could play a more prominent and effective role in supporting researcher wellbeing.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495193
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        Value: 10.1007/s10805-025-09700-5
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Researchers
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      – SubjectFull: Social Science Research
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      – SubjectFull: Well Being
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      – SubjectFull: Australia
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