Fostering faculty well-being: evidence on human resource practices for a psychologically healthy academia

Purpose This study aims to examine how strategic human resource practices can help reduce stress among faculty members in higher education institutions (HEIs) by strengthening their internal psychological resources. It explores how different forms of intelligence – technological, emotional and spiritual – shape the effectiveness of these practices, offering a nuanced understanding of how institutions can better support academic staff in demanding and evolving work environments. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was distributed via an online survey to 438 faculty members across multiple HEIs in India, using a non-probability snowball sampling approach. This study used well-established psychometric scales to measure high-performance human resource practices (HPHRPs), psychological capital (PsyCap), artificial intelligence (AI), emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence and perceived stress. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to establish construct validity, and moderated-mediation analyses were performed to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The results indicate that HPHRPs play a meaningful role in alleviating stress by fostering greater psychological resilience among faculty members. PsyCap serves as a key pathway through which these practices exert their influence. Notably, the use of AI tools amplifies the positive effect of human resource practices on psychological resources. This relationship is further strengthened by individuals’ emotional awareness and regulation abilities, which enhance the synergy between technology use and supportive work practices. Moreover, a sense of spiritual purpose and alignment with institutional values further buffers the impact of stress, reinforcing the role of deeper meaning and connection in sustaining well-being within academic environments. Originality/value This study sheds new light on how people-oriented management practices can ease workplace stress when embedded in environments that also nurture technological fluency, emotional awareness and spiritual meaning. Rather than treating these elements in isolation, the findings suggest that reducing stress in academic settings requires a broader view – one that sees human resource systems as deeply interconnected with how individuals experience purpose, connection and adaptability. When faculty feel supported not just by procedures but by values, emotions and enabling tools, they become more resilient and psychologically empowered. In doing so, this study challenges fragmented approaches to stress management and calls for more holistic strategies that recognize the full spectrum of what it means to thrive at work.