Stress Due to Salary Delays: Understanding the Current Perceived Stress Pattern Among Assistant Professors of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur

Salary delay can create financial uncertainty and psychological strain, particularly among university teachers whose professional and family responsibilities depend on regular income. The present study aimed to assess the level of perceived stress and examine differences in perceived stress among Assistant Professors of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University during a three-month salary delay. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 124 Assistant Professors, comprising 80 males and 44 females, during May-June 2026. Data were collected through online and offline surveys using a questionnaire containing socio-demographic information and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The Hindi adaptation of the PSS-10 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.879) along with satisfactory validity. Findings showed that 62.9% of participants experienced moderate stress, 29.0% experienced high stress, and 8.1% experienced low stress, indicating that 91.9% experienced moderate to high perceived stress. Gender was not significantly associated with perceived stress, whereas significant associations were observed between perceived stress and social group, spouse employment status, and number of dependants. The findings indicate substantial perceived stress among Assistant Professors during salary delays and highlight the importance of timely salary disbursement, effective financial management, and faculty-supportive measures to promote psychological well-being.