scholarly journals Leader-Based Workplace Health Interventions — A Before–After Study in Norwegian and Swedish Small-Scale Enterprises

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Hansen ◽  
Bodil J. Landstad ◽  
Kjell Terje Gundersen ◽  
Stig Vinberg
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions

The purpose of this study is to contribute to knowledge about leader-based workplace health interventions by investigating changes in psychosocial working conditions and health in Norwegian and Swedish small-scale enterprises (SSEs). The study also aims to investigate whether there are differences between position, and countries. In total, 30 leaders and 149 coworkers in 34 SSEs participated in two intervention and two reference groups. Leaders and coworkers completed the validated questionnaires (Nordic Questionnaire on Positive Organizational Psychology ([N-POP]), Work Experience Measurement Scale (WEMS), and Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS), which cover different psychosocial working conditions and health outcomes. The interventions were carried out by advisors from occupational health services (OHSs) over a one-year period and consisted of analyses of health and psychosocial working conditions, company visits, education and networking meetings, including information and tools on issues such as leadership, work environment and health, and leadership support. The statistical methods used included principal component analyses, reliability tests, paired samplettests and three-way ANOVA. The results indicate a significant positive development concerning external job performance in the intervention groups. Regarding internal job performance, both the Norwegian intervention group and the reference group showed positive improvements. However, there were negative or nonsignificant developments for several of the psychosocial working conditions and health outcomes in the intervention groups. With regard to associations and interactions between the studied variables, there were significantly positive developments with regard to external job performance and sickness absences in the total intervention group. The study indicates that more thorough procedures and testing of leader-based interventions in SSEs are required.

scholarly journals Workplace-based prevention and rehabilitation programs in Swedish public human service organisations

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stig Vinberg
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Leadership Behaviour

Background: This presentation focuses on results from studies concerning workplace health and rehabilitation interventions in one Swedish rural municipality including 19 workplaces with a population of 311 individuals. The municipality has implemented a model for human resource accounting, an extensive leader and co-worker development program and specific workplace based health and rehabilitation measures.Methods: The studies compare co-workers and leaders self-ratings of health and psychosocial working conditions, and investigate how workplace health and rehabilitation programs affect these ratings by analysing quantitative results before, during and after carried out interventions. Qualitative data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with middle managers and an examination of documents reviewing content of the interventions that had been carried out.Findings: Results indicate differences concerning how the leaders and the co-workers judge their health and psychosocial working conditions. When comparing mean changes in scores on indexes by individuals grouped in the high quality workplace-based program group with individuals grouped in the low quality workplace-based program group, there were more positive mean changes for the former group.Discussion: The findings of differences concerning how public sector leaders and co-workers judge their health and psychosocial working conditions give support for different job characteristics for these two categories of employees. The rather strong relationships in the assumed direction between employees’ assessment of changes in health, and changes concerning stress and psychosocial working conditions that resulted are in line with other research studies. Comparing workplaces grouped as having high quality workplace-based programs with workplaces with low quality workplace-based programs indicates that workplace-based prevention and rehabilitation programs in public human service organizations using a broad change strategy with high levels of participation from both managers and co-workers, and developed leadership behaviour are more effective in improving employee health and psychosocial working conditions.

Organizational and Psychosocial Working Conditions and Their Relationship With Mental Health Outcomes in Patient-Care Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. e480-e485 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Andrée López Gómez ◽  
Erika Sabbath ◽  
Leslie Boden ◽  
Jessica A.R. Williams ◽  
Karen Hopcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Care Workers

Psychosocial working conditions and obesity research in high risk occupations and populations

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
BongKyoo Choi ◽  
Marnie Dobson ◽  
Hyoung Ryoul Kim ◽  
Nicole Champagne ◽  
Horacio Tovalin Ahumada
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Obesity Research

scholarly journals Working conditions and health status of 6,317 front line public health workers across five provinces in China during the COVID-19 epidemic: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghua Li ◽  
Jingdong Xu ◽  
Huan Zhou ◽  
Hua You ◽  
Xiaohui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Public Health Workers

ABSTRACT Background Public health workers at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and primary health care institutes (PHIs) were among the main workers who implemented prevention, control, and containment measures. However, their efforts and health status have not been well documented. We aimed to investigate the working conditions and health status of front line public health workers in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Between 18 February and 1 March 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of 2,313 CDC workers and 4,004 PHI workers in five provinces across China experiencing different scales of COVID-19 epidemic. We surveyed all participants about their work conditions, roles, burdens, perceptions, mental health, and self-rated health using a self-constructed questionnaire and standardised measurements (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire and General Anxiety Disorder scale). To examine the independent associations between working conditions and health outcomes, we used multivariate regression models controlling for potential confounders. Results The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and poor self-rated health was 21.3, 19.0, and 9.8%, respectively, among public health workers (27.1, 20.6, and 15.0% among CDC workers and 17.5, 17.9, and 6.8% among PHI workers). The majority (71.6%) made immense efforts in both field and non-field work. Nearly 20.0% have worked all night for more than 3 days, and 45.3% had worked throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. Three risk factors and two protective factors were found to be independently associated with all three health outcomes in our final multivariate models: working all night for >3 days (multivariate odds ratio [ORm]=1.67~1.75, p<0.001), concerns about infection at work (ORm=1.46~1.89, p<0.001), perceived troubles at work (ORm=1.10~1.28, p<0.001), initiating COVID-19 prevention work after January 23 (ORm=0.78~0.82, p=0.002~0.008), and ability to persist for > 1 month at the current work intensity (ORm=0.44~0.55, p<0.001). Conclusions Chinese public health workers made immense efforts and personal sacrifices to control the COVID-19 epidemic and faced the risk of mental health problems. Efforts are needed to improve the working conditions and health status of public health workers and thus maintain their morale and effectiveness during the fight against COVID-19.

scholarly journals The combination of psychosocial working conditions, occupational balance and sociodemographic characteristics and their associations with no or negligible stress symptoms among Swedish occupational therapists – a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carita Håkansson ◽  
Annika Lexén
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Exhaustion Disorder

Abstract Background The numbers of people who are on sick leave due to mental health problems, such as exhaustion disorder, are increasing in Sweden. One of the most affected groups is healthcare professionals. In order to develop preventive strategies to promote a sustainable working life for occupational therapists, there is a need to understand the associations between psychosocial working conditions, occupational balance and no or negligible stress symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, neither the combination of these factors nor the salutogenic perspective, have been taken into consideration when exploring factors associated with stress symptoms among occupational therapists in previous research. Methods Purposeful sampling was used. All currently working members of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists were invited to take part in the present study in 2018. The final sample was 3658 (48% response rate). A web-survey with questions about signs of exhaustion, psychosocial working conditions, occupational balance and sociodemographic characteristics was used. Logistic regression analyses were used in order to calculate associations between psychosocial working conditions, occupational balance, sociodemographic characteristics and no or negligible signs of exhaustion. Results Experiencing high occupational balance, low workload, high control, high sense of community and high justice, were associated with no or negligible stress symptoms. Furthermore, a satisfying financial situation, having children living at home, being married and long professional experience were significant in this model. Conclusions It seems important to consider not only psychosocial working conditions, but also occupational balance to prevent exhaustion disorder among occupational therapists in Sweden. Organisational programmes, which reduce the workload, strengthen the control and sense of community and facilitate occupational balance, seem to be important areas for health promotion in this group.

scholarly journals Associations between labour market policies and work stressors

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Lunau ◽  
M Rigó
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Job Strain ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Work Stressors ◽  
Labour Market Policies ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
European Working

Abstract Background Many studies have shown that psychosocial work stressors have a negative impact on health. It is therefore important to understand how psychosocial work stressors can be reduced. First cross-sectional studies have shown that working conditions are influenced at the political level. With this study, we want to extend the existing studies by specifically looking at the longitudinal dimension and test if changing labour market policies are related to changes in psychosocial work stressors. Methods We used comparative longitudinal survey data from the European Working Conditions Survey (27 countries; years 2005, 2010, 2015). The measure of psychosocial work stressors is based on two established work stress models: job strain and effort-reward imbalance. To measure labour market policies we used information on active (ALMP) and passive labour market policies (PLMP). 64659 participants were eligible for the ERI analysis and 67114 participants for the analyses on job strain. Estimation results are provided by three-level multilevel regressions. Results An increase in ALMP investments lead to a decrease of ERI and therefore to an improvement in psychosocial working conditions. The analyses for the subcomponents showed that these results are mainly driven by reward: an increase in ALMP investments lead to an increase in rewards. We didn't find significant associations between ALMP and job strain and between a change in PLMP measures and the observed work stressors. Discussion The study extends current knowledge with longitudinal information by showing that an increase in ALMP lead to an increase in rewards and a decrease of ERI. These longitudinal analyses are more closely related to a causal interpretation than previous cross-country analyses. The findings of this study may have important policy implications. Our main result suggests that investments into ALMP can improve certain working conditions and therefore improve workers' health. Key messages Psychosocial work stressors have a negative impact on health. Investments into active labour market policies can improve psychosocial working conditions.

scholarly journals Are Demanding Job Situations Associated with Alcohol-Related Presenteeism? The WIRUS-Screening Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6169
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Mikkel Magnus Thørrisen ◽  
Jens Christoffer Skogen ◽  
Morten Hesse ◽  
Randi Wågø Aas
Keyword(s):  
Work Performance ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
Health Promotion Programs ◽  
Screening Study ◽  
Managerial Level

Alcohol-related presenteeism (impaired work performance caused by alcohol use) is an important but under-researched topic. The aim of this study was to explore whether psychosocial work environment factors were associated with alcohol-related presenteeism. A cross sectional study of Norwegian employees (n = 6620) was conducted. Logistic regression analyses were used for estimating associations with alcohol-related presenteeism, which was reported among 473 (7.1%) of the employees. Adjusted by age, gender, education level and managerial level, higher levels of overcommitment to work were associated with alcohol-related presenteeism. Higher age, male gender and higher education were also associated with alcohol-related presenteeism. Occupational health services and employers should especially focus on overcommitted employees when designing workplace health promotion programs. Modifying attitudes towards alcohol-related presenteeism among overcommitted employees may be of importance for safety at work.

A Realistic/Theory of Change Approach to the Evaluation of Health Promotion in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Sandwell

2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Carroll ◽  
Monica David ◽  
Brian Jacobs ◽  
Kalvinder Judge ◽  
Barry Wilkes
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Stakeholder Expectations ◽  
Realistic Theory

Discovering a theory of change for health promotion in small- and medium-sized enterprises highlights important lessons about how successful workplace health interventions work and the conditions conducive to positive outcomes for ‘hard to reach groups’. In the evaluation of targeted health promotion initiatives carried out by the Workwell project in Sandwell, a theory of change has emerged that indicates the need for a sensitive understanding of the contexts of interventions and the importance of developing mechanisms appropriate to local conditions and stakeholder expectations.

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