Pression for high production index affects professors, mainly the ones linked to Stricto Sensu Graduate Programs (PP). This scenario may increase the overwork, resulting in long and exhausting working hours. In this way, professors linked to PP can experience high psychosocial risk at work.

To compare two groups of professors, according to their involvement in PP, in relation to psychosocial aspects of work: quantitative demands, emotional demands, work-family conflict, stress and burnout. Our hypothesis is that professors associated to PP will present more psychosocial risks.

Baseline data from the Respira cohort, was used. Professors were invited to participate through advertisements in the media, social networks, and individual emails. Data collection took place from May to December 2022, using an electronic form structured with sociodemographic, occupational and health questions. Psychosocial aspects were assessed using the COPSOQ II-BR instrument. Data were analyzed descriptively, using relative frequencies. The independent variable “being associated in a Stricto Sensu Graduate Program” was dichotomized into associated group (AG) and non-associated group (NAG). The groups were compared using the Chi-square association test.

The study included 954 professors (AG:61.9%; NAG:38.1%) in higher education courses at public institutions with exclusive dedication of 40 hours a week. The mean age was 49 years (±9.7), 51.4% were male. Regarding burnout, 63.5% of the AG and 60.9% of the NAG present psychosocial risk; 15.7% (AG) and 15.4% (NAG) require attention; 20.8% (AG) and 23.7 (NAG) are safe. About stress, 63.6% of the AG and 63.3% of the NAG present psychosocial risk, 16.2% (AG) and 17.1% (NAG) require attention; 20.1% (AG) and 19.6% (NAG) are safe. Regarding work-family conflict, 47.5% of the AG and 43.9% of the NAG present psychosocial risk; 10.3% (AG) and 9.4% (NAG) require attention; 42.2% (AG) and 46.7% (NAG) are safe. About emotional demands, 51.4% of the AG and 50.1% of the NAG present psychosocial risk; 25.5% (AG) and 22.7% (NAG) require attention; 23.1% (AG) and 27.1% (NAG) are safe. Regarding the quantitative demands, 22.2% of the AG and 14.9% of the NAG present psychosocial risk; 18.8% (AG) and 16.5% (NAG) require attention; 59% (AG) and 68.6% (NAG) are safe. Only for quantitative demands, there was a significant association, and the AG had a higher proportion of professors in the risk category.

Associated professors in Stricto Sensu PP showed a higher psychosocial risk in relation to the quantitative demands, demonstrating a greater overload of activities. Despite the other variables not being associated with the groups, it is noted that the professors had high frequencies of psychosocial risk in relation to burnout, stress, work-family conflict, and emotional demands of work.

These results highlight the psychosocial risks reported by professors and can support the institutions to formulate policies to reduce these risks and promote heath actions for this working population.