Stress in academic life: Work characteristics as predictors of student well-being and performance

The relationship between work characteristics, student well-being and performance was assessed, based upon Karasek and Theorell's (1990) Job Demands-Control-Support model. A sample of Portuguese university students (N = 825) answered a questionnaire comprising measures of academic work demands and control, peer support, satisfaction with academic life, anxiety/depression and academic performance. Results suggested that, similar to other work contexts, student satisfaction with academic life and anxiety/ depression levels are strongly dependent on their perceptions of work characteristics. Levels of satisfaction have a direct impact on student performance and mediate the relationship between academic work control and performance.