The Psychological Empowerment of Faculty Members: Across-Sectional Study in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background: Faculty members’ abilities directly affect academic performances. Objectives: The present study was conducted to examine psychological empowerment and its relationship with professional variables among the faculty members of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 faculty members of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) in 2018. The participants were selected through simple random sampling with probability proportional to size. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire and were analyzed in SPSS-16 by the independent t-test, the one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test at the significance level of 95%. Results: The mean age of the participants was 40.16 ± 8.12 years, ranging from 26 to 60 years. The mean score of psychological empowerment was 47.44 [SD: 6.16]; that is, the participants obtained 79% of the maximum score for psychological empowerment. Age and work experience were significantly correlated with the meaning (P < 0.01) and impact (P < 0.05) domains of psychological empowerment. Conclusions: The findings showed that the meaning and impact domains of psychological empowerment correlated significantly and positively with age and work experience among the faculty members. Developing programs to promote psychological empowerment in younger faculty members is thus recommended.