Exploring Self-Care, Anxiety, Depression, and the Gender Gap in the Software Engineering Pipeline
Alicia Julia Wilson Takaoka1,2, Letizia Jaccheri1, Kshitij Sharma1
1Department of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|November 27, 2024
Summary
Software engineers
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Software engineers face workplace stress and anxiety, potentially leading to burnout.
- Understanding their well-being and mental health knowledge is crucial for diverse, multi-generational workforces.
- Self-care and resilience practices are key factors in software engineer well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the self-care practices of software engineers.
- To provide an overview of software engineer mental health.
- To explore correlations between mental health expressions and demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 224 software engineer respondents.
- Analysis of self-care practices and mental health literacy.
- Correlational analysis between mental health indicators and demographic data.
Main Results:
- Positive correlations found between imposter syndrome and happiness, anxiety, and depression.
- Negative correlations identified between mental health literacy and imposter syndrome, happiness, anxiety, and depression.
- Well-being positively correlated with self-efficacy and happiness, with gender gap considerations.
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate a need for increased mental health support services for software engineers.
- Mental health literacy appears to mitigate negative psychological states like imposter syndrome.
- Promoting self-efficacy and well-being is essential for this professional group.
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