Non-Invasive Neuromodulation as a Strategy for Reducing Occupational Stress and Burnout in Higher Education

Occupational stress, defined as stress in the workplace context, is recognized as one of the main health problems in the work environment. Although having a profession is fundamental for financial support, professional fulfillment and social recognition, factors such as excessive pressure, workload overload and inadequate organizational environment can compromise workers' well-being, making it essential to seek a balance between productivity and health.

Occupational stress has been associated with reduced overall well-being, compromising essential cognitive functions such as concentration and work productivity. Professionals from various areas deal with this problem, particularly those who work directly with people and provide essential services, such as doctors, police officers, firefighters and university professors, being more susceptible to stress.

According to recent studies, university teaching activity has become increasingly demanding, reflected in high levels of work stress. Performance demands, pressure for scientific productivity, overload of administrative and teaching tasks, as well as contractual instability, are factors that contribute to a highly exhausting work environment. These pressures are not just individual perceptions but result from structural conditions present in higher education institutions, with significant impacts on teachers' health, well-being and quality of life.

When occupational stress is not effectively managed, it can become chronic and result in burnout, a disabling condition characterized by a sensation of physical and mental exhaustion, emotional distancing from work accompanied by a negative and cynical attitude towards professional activities, and a reduction in effectiveness and performance in the work environment. In university professors, burnout can reach alarming percentages. Studies reveal that among participants, a significant percentage present critical levels of burnout, requiring immediate intervention. In the national context, although identified burnout levels may not be particularly high, the reduced sample size and unequal distribution of analytical categories may have introduced biases that compromise the robustness of results. Therefore, it becomes evident the need to develop new investigations with larger and more representative samples, as well as using more advanced statistical methods, in order to deepen understanding of burnout in higher education professors and provide more solid bases for creating effective prevention and intervention strategies.

To deal with these problems, various strategies are recommended with relaxation techniques, such as yoga, which have proven effective in reducing occupational stress, especially among health professionals. Mindfulness-based approaches also play an important role in reducing stress and burnout, being widely applied to promote well-being at work. Additionally, music therapy has proven to be an effective complementary strategy in reducing stress, and can be applied in various professions to alleviate negative emotions. Beyond these approaches, new approaches such as non-invasive neuromodulation have shown promise.