I recently came across this article about why associate professors are such an unhappy lot.
New national data show that associate professors are some of the unhappiest people in academe.
I was a career associate professor. Being an associate professor for three decades can be difficult in many ways, including but not limited to those set out in the article. [You'll have to follow the link to read the explanations because I have been unable to copy-and-paste from it.]
Fortunately I developed interests and friendships outside my academic life, and I found other venues in which to pursue my academic interests at times. As a result, over the last decade or two I developed a sense of gratitude, adventure, and happiness that helped overcome the things I didn't like about the job.
New national data show that associate professors are some of the unhappiest people in academe. They are significantly less satisfied with their work than either assistant or full professors, according to the data, which were collected this year from 13,510 professors at 56 colleges and universities by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education, at Harvard University. - See more at: http://m.chronicle.com/article/Why-Are-Associate-Professors/132071/?utm_content=buffer66b82&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.zFdFZc2t.dpufNew national data show that associate professors are some of the unhappiest people in academe. They are significantly less satisfied with their work than either assistant or full professors, according to the data, which were collected this year from 13,510 professors at 56 colleges and universities by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education, at Harvard University. - See more at: http://m.chronicle.com/article/Why-Are-Associate-Professors/132071/?utm_content=buffer66b82&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.zFdFZc2t.dpufNew national data show that associate professors are some of the unhappiest people in academe. They are significantly less satisfied with their work than either assistant or full professors, according to the data, which were collected this year from 13,510 professors at 56 colleges and universities by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education, at Harvard University. - See more at: http://m.chronicle.com/article/Why-Are-Associate-Professors/132071/?utm_content=buffer66b82&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.zFdFZc2t.dpuf