Service Workers’ Well-Being During COVID-19: A Strengths-Based Inclusive Theory of Work Perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 106907272110508
Author(s):  
Rhea L. Owens ◽  
Erika E. Meierding ◽  
Blake A. Allan

This study tested the Strengths-Based Inclusive Theory of Work (S-BIT of Work), a vocational theory that emphasizes positive psychological and cultural factors, among a sample of service industry workers during COVID-19. Service industry workers ( N = 320) were recruited via social media sources across the United States, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the model. This model included privilege and COVID-19 impact as contextual variables; organizational support and workplace dignity as promotive workplace variables; hope, strengths use, adaptability, empowerment, and perceived COVID-19 threat as individual variables; and fulfilling work and psychological distress as outcome variables. Privilege and workplace dignity were identified as particularly important variables; results suggested privilege was positively associated with a promotive work context and negatively related to psychological distress. Additionally, the greater the amount of privilege and dignity the service industry workers experienced, the greater their positive individual characteristics were able to flourish.

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Adams ◽  
Sharon Mastracci

Police departments in the United States are rapidly adopting body-worn cameras (BWCs). To date, no study has investigated the effects of BWCs on police officers themselves, despite evidence suggesting negative effects of electronic performance monitoring on employee well-being. Police officers already experience higher levels of burnout than other professions. We hypothesize that the intense surveillance of BWCs will manifest in how police officers perceive the organizational support of their departments and will increase burnout. We test these hypotheses using data from patrol officers ( n = 271) and structural equation modeling. We find BWCs increase police officer burnout, and this effect is statistically different from zero. We also find that BWCs decrease officers’ perceived organizational support, which mediates the relationship between BWCs and burnout. Greater perceived organizational support can blunt the negative effects of BWCs. Our study is the first to situate effects on officers at the center of BWC literature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Gallagher

In identity theory, inconsistencies between self-views and perceptions of others’ views of self (identity discrepancies) are considered stressors that can compromise well-being. The particular outcome(s) affected by a given identity discrepancy may depend upon the type of identity being considered. Using telephone survey data ( n = 501) from a national probability sample of adults in the United States and structural equation modeling techniques, the author compares the impact of discrepancies in obligatory and voluntary identities on two components of self-evaluation (self-esteem and self-efficacy) and three types of psychological distress (depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms). Results confirm that discrepancies associated with obligatory and voluntary identities differentially affect these outcomes. Obligatory identity discrepancies have a direct association with somatic symptoms, whereas voluntary identity discrepancies are indirectly related to depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms through self-esteem. Implications of these findings for identity and mental health research, directions for future research, and study limitations are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 633-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien-Yuan Hsu ◽  
Tze-Li Hsu ◽  
KoFan Lee ◽  
Lori Wolff

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct validity of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB) using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). The data were drawn from the national survey of Midlife in the United States conducted during 1994 and 1995. Measurement models assuming different number of factors (1-6 factors) and considering the effect of negatively wording items were specified and compared to determine optimal number of underlying factors. The discriminant validity was assessed following Farrell’s suggestions. The results showed the discriminant validity was questionable due to five indicators with considerable cross-loadings.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mashal Ahmed Wattoo ◽  
Shuming Zhao ◽  
Meng Xi

Purpose Considering work and family responsibility has become an important issue due to changes in the lives of people, understanding work and family responsibilities is essential for organizations in assisting employees to increase their well-being. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to find the impact of perceived organizational support (POS) on work–family facilitation (WFF) and work–family conflict (WFC) and eventually on employee well-being. Design/methodology/approach A survey questionnaire is administered to 1,340 employees of Chinese enterprises. Structural equation modeling is used to test the model fit. Findings Results of this study indicate a significant positive relationship between POS and WFF and significant negative relation between POS and WFC. Results of this paper also indicate that WFF and WFC partially mediate the relationship between POS and employee well-being. Originality/value Over the past two decades, the extent of research on work–family literature has been increased. Most of the work–family research works have been conducted in the Western countries. Very little is known about whether these results are applicable to Eastern societies. This study is extended to focus on work–family literature by drawing a sample from different regions of China. The findings of this study may provide a good understanding of WFC and WFF for Chinese employees. This study stresses the importance of providing organizational support to increase the well-being of employees.


2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amruta Deshpande ◽  
Ritu Gupta

Purpose Understanding attrition in this VUCA world has become imperative for organizations to ensure they are able to sustain themselves. While focus on understanding attrition is important, it is equally important to retain acquired talent, at the same time add value to the human side of business. The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors which play crucial role in retention of newly hired employees working in Indian IT industry. The study has considered factors, namely, supervisor support behavior, feedback-seeking behavior (FSB), affective commitment (AC) and empirically verified their impact on new recruit’s intention to quit (IQ). Design/methodology/approach The survey was conducted among 524 newly hired employees working in 58 different companies listed in National Association of Software Services Companies member directory in Indian IT industry. All the scales used in the study are reliable and validated. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to test the validation of scales. The data were analyzed to test the proposed structural model using structural equation modeling. Findings The present study has successfully blended and verified the effect of supportive behavior of supervisor and new recruit’s FSB on the AC and IQ of newly hired employees. The study highlighted that supportive supervisors can encourage the newly hired employees to seeking feedback and enhance their commitment toward the organization. Further, this reduces the turnover intention of employees. Research limitations/implications The theoretical contribution of the study is in successful amalgamation of two major streams of studies on new recruits by assessing the effect of supervisors’ supportive behaviors and new recruits’ proactive FSB on their IQ. The study has also looked at the newly hired employees’ behavioral reactions during uncertain entry period and throughout the adjustment process. The limitations of the study are in the focus on one industry and cross-sectional data. In the future researchers can explore the relationships in a longitudinal study. Also, other variables like perceived organizational support and job satisfaction can be considered. Practical implications The present study demonstrates that supportive supervisors can motivate newly hired employees to seek feedback, and help them to “fit in” the organization. This study verifies that supervisors are considered as an important source of information for new recruits and the new recruits’ FSB positively influences their commitment toward the organization. Based on these results it is imperative for managers to be approachable and available to offer feedback to the new recruits in their initial days to ensure their adjustment, commitment and retention in the organization. This adds to sustaining the business and social well-being of the employees. Originality/value The present study offers a critical insight about the retention of newly hired employees in the organization. In the quickly changing VUCA world, these newly hired employees can be an asset for companies to build competitive advantage. However, to construct a strong future team for the organization, it is imperative that companies focus on augmentation of commitment among newly hired employees to further retain them. The present study proposes the path of empowerment among the new recruits to make them committed to the organization and to make sure that they stay with the organization in long run.


Author(s):  
Svenja Damberg ◽  
Lena Frömbling

AbstractThe social distancing required during Covid-19 times tended to make people feel lonelier than usual. Those with pets might, however, have experienced this less, because pets are known for fostering their owners’ subjective well-being. Building on a recently published structural equation model, our study enhances the understanding of subjective well-being by including the construct social distancing during Covid-19 times. In order to answer our research question—How does human-pet relationship need support influence subjective well-being by considering social isolation during Covid-19 times?—we build on the basic needs theory, assuming that humans as well as their pets have an inherent need of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Using a multivariate data analysis method, namely partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we establish a path model and examine the relationship between human-pet relationship need support and subjective well-being by including psychological distress and social isolation during Covid-19 times as mediators. We operationalize subjective well-being as a three-dimensional construct consisting of positive affect, happiness, and life satisfaction. In a sample of 215 pet owners in the USA, supporting their need increases subjective well-being, and decreases the psychological distress and loneliness caused by social isolation during Covid-19 times. Furthermore, psychological distress decreases subjective well-being, whereas perceived loneliness during Covid-19 times does not. Our main contributions are to not only enhance our knowledge on the importance of human-pet relationships in critical times, but also to provide policy makers with insights into what influences people’s subjective well-being, which is closely related to their psychological health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 237802311985682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Haner ◽  
Melissa M. Sloan ◽  
Francis T. Cullen ◽  
Teresa C. Kulig ◽  
Cheryl Lero Jonson

In the era of 9/11, terrorist attacks occur with sufficient frequency and lethality to constitute a realistic threat to the well-being of the American public. Sensing this concern, politicians emphasize the threat of violent attacks to advance a platform of making public safety a priority. In this context, the authors assess the extent, sources, and emotional impact of the public’s concern about terrorism. On the basis of a national survey of 1,000 Americans, the authors examine levels of fear of a terrorist attack and worry about terrorism relative to other potential harms. They also determine whether concern about terrorism translates into support for homeland security measures that target Muslims. Of the predictors in the authors’ models, gender, religiosity, and psychological distress were most consistently associated with fear of terrorism and worry about being a victim of a terrorist attack. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that terrorism-related fear and worry predict support for anti-Muslim policies.


Gerontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline A. Mogle ◽  
Nikki Hill ◽  
Caroline McDermott

Background: Individual perception of memory performance (i.e., subjective memory) is assessed using a variety of approaches. This article focuses on 2 such approaches: (1) self-comparison assessments that attempt to capture changes in memory ability over a period of time and (2) age-anchored comparisons that assess how an individual perceives their memory in relation to others their age. These different types of assessment may relate to psychological well-being differently due to the underlying mechanisms of assessment. Objective: The purpose of these analyses is to examine 2 measures of subjective memory (i.e., a self-comparison measure and an age-anchored comparison measure) as predictors of psychological well-being among adults in mid- and late life. Methods: Participants (n = 3,434) in the Midlife in the United States Study completed measures of subjective memory, depressive affect, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether the self-comparison and age-anchored comparison measures had differential predictive utility regarding psychological well-being. Results: Higher age-anchored comparison ratings were related to higher life satisfaction scores. There was a significant interaction between the 2 items such that individuals with lower ratings on both subjective memory measures had the poorest outcomes. Additionally, age-anchored comparisons interacted with age: older adults had the poorest outcomes when they reported poorer age-anchored comparisons. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of precise measurement in the consideration of subjective memory. How an individual was asked to rate his or her perception of memory influenced the relationships between subjective memory and psychological well-being. This study contributes valuable insight into the importance of the assessment models of subjective memory.


Author(s):  
Samma Faiz Rasool ◽  
Mansi Wang ◽  
Minze Tang ◽  
Amir Saeed ◽  
Javed Iqbal

This study explores the effects of a toxic workplace environment (TWE) on employee engagement (EE). Building on conservation of resources (COR) theory and organizational support theory (OST), this study proposed a research model. In this research model, a toxic workplace environment negatively affected employee engagement, directly and indirectly, through organizational support (OS) and employee well-being (EW). In this study, we used a quantitative research approach, and data were collected from 301 workers employed in the small and medium-size enterprises of China. To estimate the proposed relationships of the research model, we used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 3.2.2). The results of this study confirmed that a toxic workplace environment has a negative impact on employee engagement. Moreover, the findings of this research confirm that organizational support and employee well-being significantly mediate a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement. The conclusions of this study are as follows: First, the direct relationship between a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement confirms that if employees are working in a toxic environment, they will spread negative feelings among other co-workers. The feelings that come with a toxic workplace environment, i.e., harassment, bullying, and ostracism, can be detrimental and lead to unnecessary stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety among the workers. Second, employee well-being will affect employee behaviors that enhance employee engagement with the work as well as with the organization. Third, organizational support also increases employee engagement with the work as well as with the organization. So, it is also confirmed that when workers perceive the support from the organization, their sense of belonging to the organization is strengthened.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E. Stokes ◽  
Sara M. Moorman

This study examines associations between perceived day-to-day age discrimination, positive well-being, and physical health over a 20-year span. Data came from all three waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (1995–2014). Generalized structural equation modeling was used to analyze 6,016 observations of 3,102 participants and test associations between age discrimination and (a) psychological well-being and positive affect, and (b) self-rated health, instrumental activities of daily living, and chronic conditions. Associations were also examined between the well-being measures and all three health outcomes. Between-persons and within-persons effects were modeled separately but simultaneously. Both between-persons and within-persons results revealed numerous significant associations between age discrimination and physical health, although results were stronger between-persons. Moreover, hypothesized associations of age discrimination with well-being, and of well-being with physical health, were supported both between- and within-persons. Findings suggest diminished well-being may be one mechanism whereby age discrimination harms health.


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