{"id":113698,"date":"2020-05-18T14:58:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T12:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=113698"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:56","slug":"we-want-to-remove-the-sources-of-stress-wherever-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/05\/18\/we-want-to-remove-the-sources-of-stress-wherever-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We want to remove the sources of stress wherever possible’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research carried out by the university has shown that the corona crisis has aggravated stress, work pressure and psychological problems amongst students and staff. This is not entirely unexpected, says Rector Magnificus Rutger Engels. “I would prefer to see that our students and staff are spared any adverse effects stemming from this crisis as much as possible. However, it seems inevitable that these kinds of consequences are bound to happen.”<\/p>\n

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Rector Magnificus Rutger Engels at the opening of the academic year<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRonald van den Heerik<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Two out of three students are experiencing study-related stress. Almost half are suffering from low spirits, fatigue, loneliness and anxiety. Moreover, plenty of staff members are also suffering from these kinds of symptoms. Approximately 60 % are experiencing work pressure and one in three is suffering from low spirits, loneliness or anxiety. Did those results shock you? How do you view these, as a rector and a psychologist?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThese results are in line with similar research conducted here in the Netherlands and abroad, so this didn\u2019t come as a surprise. As a psychologist and as rector, I would prefer to see that our students and staff are spared as much as possible any adverse effects stemming from this crisis. However, it seems inevitable that these kinds of effects are bound to occur on several levels. On the fronts where we as a university have an influence, such as work pressure and psychological support for students, we have been working hard to mitigate these effects or turn things around for the better and will continue to do so in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n