BETWEEN THE LATTES CURRICULUM AND QUALITY OF LIFE: THE CULTURE OF ACADEMIC PRODUCTIVITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH, IDENTITY, AND THE CAREERS OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.073-002Keywords:
Academic career, Mental health, Professional identity, Productivity culture, University professorsAbstract
The growing centrality of scientific productivity in academic careers has intensified discussions about its effects on quality of life, mental health, professional identity, and faculty career trajectories. This study aimed to critically analyze the relationship between the culture of academic productivity and the professional experience of university professors, considering the influence of publication requirements and evaluation mechanisms on different dimensions of their careers. This systematic literature review was conducted using the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), PubMed, Scopus, and Latindex databases, as well as Open Journal Systems (OJS) repositories, and encompassed publications in Portuguese and English from 2021 to 2026. Studies related to academic productivity, the “publish or perish” culture, mental health, quality of life, professional identity, and academic careers were analyzed. The results showed that pressure to publish and perform may be associated with stress, anxiety, fatigue, psychological distress, and burnout, while also contributing to conflicts involving professional identity and the meaning attributed to teaching work. Differing repercussions were also identified depending on career stage, institutional context, and socioprofessional conditions. It is concluded that scientific productivity is a relevant component of academic work, but its use as the predominant criterion for recognition may compromise professional sustainability and faculty well-being. Evaluation models must therefore be developed that value the plurality of academic activities, mental health, the quality of professional relationships, scientific relevance, and quality of life.
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