The well-being of women at work: the importance of resources across the life course

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxane L. Gervais ◽  
Prudence Millear
Keyword(s):  
Women Workers ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Influencing Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Life Course

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that impact on the well-being of women workers, as assessed through depression, anxiety and stress, across the life course, i.e. age, marital status and parental status. Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative study was cross-sectional in nature and used an online self-report questionnaire to generate information on job/work characteristics, belief systems and demographic variables. A snowball sample was used to recruit the respondents. Findings – The results showed that the availability of resources was the influencing factor in women workers maintaining their well-being. Those respondents with resources, such as job autonomy and support from colleagues, were less likely to be depressed, anxious or stressed. The life course was not an influencing factor in the models tested suggesting that regardless of women's stage in life, they require appropriate resources to address the demands of the work environment, to maintain their well-being. Practical implications – The implications of this study are that when considering diversity in the work environment, it is important to assess if all workers have the resources they require to cope with the demands of the workplace. Originality/value – This present study outlines the importance of the life course in the context of the workplace, but highlights also that it is only one perspective and that others should be considered; such as those factors that are inherent in improving well-being and relationships within organisations.

scholarly journals What happens to the physical and psychosocial work environment when activity-based offices are introduced into academia?

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Berthelsen ◽  
Tuija Muhonen ◽  
Susanna Toivanen
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Work Environment ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

PurposeThere is an increased interest for introducing activity-based offices at universities. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about the importance of the built environment for the psychosocial work environment within academia by analyzing how staff at a large Swedish university experienced the physical and psychosocial work environment before and after moving to activity-based offices.Design/methodology/approachA Web-based survey was distributed to all employees at two faculties at a university three months before (2015,n= 217, response rate 51 per cent) and nine months after (2016,n= 200, response rate 47 per cent) relocation to a new activity-based university building.FindingsIn the new premises, a vast majority (86 per cent) always occupied the same place when possible, and worked also more often from home. The social community at work had declined and social support from colleagues and supervisors was perceived to have decreased. The participants reported a lower job satisfaction after the relocation and were more likely to seek new jobs. No aspects in the physical or psychosocial work environment were found to have improved after the relocation.Research/limitations implicationsThe study had a two-wave cross-sectional design, which does not allow establishing causal relations.Practical implicationsThere is reason to be cautious about relocation to activity-based offices at universities. The potential savings in costs for premises may lead to may be followed by an increase in other costs. The risk that staff cannot concentrate on their work in activity-based university workplaces and lose their sense of community with colleagues are factors, which in the long run may lead to decreased efficiency, more conflicts and poorer well-being.Originality/valueThis paper contributes with new knowledge concerning changes in the physical and psychosocial work environment when relocating from cell offices to activity-based offices in a university setting.

Using the life course paradigm to study financial well-being in late life

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pattharanitcha Prakitsuwan ◽  
George P. Moschis ◽  
Randall Shannon
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Developmental Factors ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Behavior Issues ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Conceptual Research

PurposeThis study aims to show how the increasingly popular life course paradigm (LCP) can be employed as an alternative to the successful aging perspective (SAP) as an overarching conceptual research framework to study elderly consumers' financial well-being.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 804 Thai consumers over the age of 45 selected via the snowball method.FindingsSignificant results were found for hypotheses derived from the LCP for older consumers' financial well-being, suggesting critical roles of early life experiences, developmental factors, adaptation mechanisms and contextual factors.Originality/valueThis paper shows how efforts to study consumers over the course of their lives can be improved by utilizing the principles and theoretical perspectives of the LCP and offers research directions for studying not only older consumer well-being but also numerous consumer behavior issues at any stage of life in an innovative way.

scholarly journals The U Shape of Happiness Across the Life Course: Expanding the Discussion

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 898-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Galambos ◽  
Harvey J. Krahn ◽  
Matthew D. Johnson ◽  
Margie E. Lachman
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Collaborative Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Media ◽  
Longitudinal Support ◽  
The Life Course

The notion of a U shape in happiness—that well-being is highest for people in their 20s, decreases to its nadir in midlife, and then rises into old age—has captured the attention of the media, which often cite it as evidence for a midlife crisis. We argue that support for the purported U shape is not as robust and generalizable as is often assumed and present our case with the following arguments: (a) Cross-sectional studies are inadequate for drawing conclusions about within-person change in happiness across the life span; (b) cross-sectional evidence with respect to the ubiquity and robustness of the U shape in general levels of happiness and life satisfaction is mixed; (c) longitudinal support for the U shape in happiness and life satisfaction is also mixed; (d) longitudinal research on subjective indicators of well-being other than general levels of happiness and life satisfaction challenges the U shape; (e) when asked to reflect on their lives, older adults tend to recall midlife as one of the more positive periods; and (f) a focus on a single trajectory of well-being is of limited scientific and applied value because it obscures the diversity in pathways throughout life as well as its sources. Understanding happiness across the life course and moving the research field forward require a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach.

Marital quality over the life course and child well-being from childhood to early adolescence

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Spencer L. James ◽  
David A. Nelson ◽  
McKell A. Jorgensen-Wells ◽  
Danielle Calder
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Important Variation ◽  
Math Scores ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Research on marital quality and child well-being is currently limited by its common use of geographically constrained, homogenous, and often cross-sectional (or at least temporally limited) samples. We build upon previous work showing multiple trajectories of marital quality and data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 (NLSY79) regarding mothers and their children (inclusive of ages 5–14). We examine how indicators of child well-being are linked to parental trajectories of marital quality (happiness, communication, and conflict). Results showed children whose parents had consistently poor marital quality over the life course exhibited more internalizing and externalizing problems, poorer health, lower quality home environments, and lower math and vocabulary scores than children of parents in consistently higher-quality marriages. Group differences remained stable over time for child health, home environment, and vocabulary scores. Group differences for internalizing problems declined over time, whereas group differences increased for externalizing problems and math scores. Initial advantages for females across nearly all indicators of child well-being tended to shrink over time, with boys often moving slightly ahead by mid adolescence. We discuss the implications of these findings in regard to children's development and well-being and suggest treating marriage as a monolithic construct betrays important variation within marriage itself.

scholarly journals Midlife as a pivotal period in the life course

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margie E. Lachman ◽  
Salom Teshale ◽  
Stefan Agrigoroaei
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Health And Well Being

We provide evidence for multidirectionality, variability, and plasticity in the nature and direction of change in physical health, cognitive functioning, and well-being during the middle years of the life course. The picture of well-being in midlife based on longitudinal data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study is a more positive one than portrayed in previous cross-sectional studies. We present middle age as a pivotal period in the life course in terms of balancing growth and decline, linking earlier and later periods of life, and bridging younger and older generations. We highlight the role of protective factors and multisystem resilience in mitigating declines. Those in middle age play a central role in the lives of those who are younger and older at home, in the workplace, and in society at large. Thus, a focus on promoting health and well-being in middle age can have a far-reaching impact.

The influence of work environment relationships on mental health of Brazilian seamstresses

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-175
Author(s):  
Neliane Aparecida Silva ◽  
Letícia Yamawaka de Almeida ◽  
Jaqueline Lemos de Oliveira ◽  
Lilian Carla de Almeida ◽  
Regina Célia Fiorati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Study Results

BACKGROUND: The work environment is a place in which different kinds of interpersonal relationships are developed and can contribute positively or negatively to productivity and to workers’ well-being. Discussion on this topic may contribute to building more coping strategies to fight against gender inequality and the emotional repercussions of these conditions. OBJECTIVE: This is a cross-sectional study that investigated the possible influence of work environment relationships on the mental health of Brazilian seamstresses. METHODS: The participants were seamstresses from four clothing factories in a city in the southwest of Brazil. For data collection, we used the Social Support Perception at Work Scale; Self-Report Questionnaire; Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; and a focus group. The quantitative data were statistically analyzed, and data from the focus groups were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Interpersonal relationships at work were mentioned as sources of conflict and stress but also as emotional and material social support providers. In the sample studied, these relationships did not influence directly the development of mental health disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest that a low level of education is an important factor that increases the vulnerability of these women to the precariousness of work, and, consequently to developing mental health symptoms or aggravating previous mental health distress. However, emotional and material support from peers likely protects these workers’ mental health.

Overwork climate scale: psychometric properties and relationships with working hard

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 880-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greta Mazzetti ◽  
Wilmar B. Schaufeli ◽  
Dina Guglielmi ◽  
Marco Depolo
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Psychological Climate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Scale ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether employees’ tendency to work excessive hours is motivated by the perception of a work environment that encourages overwork (overwork climate). Thus, this study introduces a self-report questionnaire aimed at assessing the perception of a psychological climate for overwork in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach – In Study 1, the overwork climate scale (OWCS) was developed and evaluated using principal component analysis (n=395) and confirmatory factor analysis (n=396). In Study 2, the total sample (n=791) was used to explore the association of the overwork climate with opposite types of working hard (work engagement and workaholism). Findings – Two overwork climate dimensions were distinguished, namely, overwork endorsement and lacking overwork rewards. The lack of overwork rewards was negatively associated with engagement, whereas workaholism showed a strong positive association with overwork endorsement. These relationships remained significant after controlling for the impact of psychological job demands. Research limitations/implications – The findings rely on self-report data and a cross-sectional design. Practical implications – The perception of a work environment that encourages overwork but does not allocate additional compensation seems to foster workaholism. Moreover, the inadequacy of overwork rewards constitutes a lack of resources that negatively affect employees’ engagement. Originality/value – This study represents one of the first attempts to develop a questionnaire aimed at assessing a psychological climate for overwork and to explore whether the perception of this type of climate may be significantly related to workaholism and work engagement.

scholarly journals Religiosity Among Young-Adult Baby Boomers: Associations With Psychological Well-Being Over 45 Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 507-508
Author(s):  
Kent Jason Cheng ◽  
Maria Brown ◽  
Woosang Hwang ◽  
Merril Silverstein
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Baby Boomers ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract Past studies on the influence of religiosity on psychological well-being tended to be cross-sectional in nature and neglected generational differences. In this study, we assess how religiosity in early adulthood (mean age = 19) affects baby-boomers’ psychological well-being over the life course. We used waves 1 to 9 or 45 years of survey data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG) (N=798), a sample of Southern Californians. First, we used latent class analyses on five domains to identify three typologies of baby boomers’ religiosity in early adulthood. We call these typologies “strongly religious,” “weakly religious,” and “personally religious.” Then, we used latent growth curve modelling to ascertain the influence of these religiosity typologies on psychological wellbeing from waves 1 to 9, controlling for time-invariant (religious affiliation, age, sex, race, parental income) and varying (religious salience, education, marital status, and annual income) factors. We found that the strongly religious have a consistently upward psychological wellbeing trend throughout the study period whereas wellbeing started to decline for the weakly religious and personally religious at around wave 6, on when they were about mid-40s to almost 50. We provide evidence that religiosity in early adulthood – a period in life characterized by the exploration of various options for the future brought about by greater personal freedom – positively influences baby boomer’s psychological wellbeing over the life course.

Engaging leadership in the job demands-resources model

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 446-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilmar B. Schaufeli
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to integrate leadership into the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. Based on self-determination theory, it was argued that engaging leaders who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers would reduce employee’s levels of burnout and increase their levels of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Dutch workforce (n=1,213) and the research model was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings – It appeared that leadership only had an indirect effect on burnout and engagement – via job demands and job resources – but not a direct effect. Moreover, leadership also had a direct relationship with organizational outcomes such as employability, performance, and commitment. Research limitations/implications – The study used a cross-sectional design and all variables were based on self-reports. Hence, results should be replicated in a longitudinal study and using more objective measures (e.g. for work performance). Practical implications – Since engaged leaders, who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers, provide a work context in which employees thrive, organizations are well advised to promote engaging leadership. Social implications – Leadership seems to be a crucial factor which has an indirect impact – via job demands and job resources – on employee well-being. Originality/value – The study demonstrates that engaging leadership can be integrated into the JD-R framework.

scholarly journals A Faith to Move Mountains? Childhood Abuse, Religious Change, and Mental Health at Midlife

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 461-461
Author(s):  
Laura Upenieks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Religious Attendance ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Religious Importance ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract Of all the various forms of adversity experienced during childhood, childhood maltreatment (emotional and physical abuse) is shown to have the largest impacts on mental health and well-being. Yet we still have a limited understanding of why some victims of early maltreatment suffer immense mental health consequences later on in the life course, while others are able to cushion the blow of these early insults. Using two waves of data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), this study considers change in religiosity as a buffer across three dimensions for victims of childhood abuse: religious importance, attendance, and the specific act of seeking comfort through religion. Results suggest that increases in religious comfort during adulthood are positively associated with adult mental health for victims of abuse, while decreases in religious comfort over time were associated with worse mental health. Changes in religious attendance and religious importance were not significant associated with mental health for victims of abuse. Taken together, my results show that the stress-moderating effects of religion for victims of childhood maltreatment are contingent on the stability or increases or decreases in religiosity over the life course, which has been overlooked in previous work.

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